A long and proud heritage in the Clare Valley.
Crabtree is quite small, very much a boutique operation so far as production is concerned. The annual crush is a mere hundred tonnes, the tiny winery is at full capacity every vintage, and the wines are very limited in production.
The Beginning
The house that makes up the cellar door dates back to when the Clare Valley was first settled, and has been the home of a number of local identities over the years. Robert Crabtree resided here while making wine on the estate. Adolf Glaetzer was one of these residents, known best in the Clare Valley for his fresh fruit and vegetables rather than winemaking, though his descendants have made the Glaetzer name synonymous with Australian winemaking. Robert Crabtree purchased the house from the Glaetzer family, it is heritage listed, the oldest sections date back to 1849.
The Crabtree site has been planted to vineyards for well over 100 years, with the first vines being planted in the 1880s, though none of these original plantings exist. Adolf Glaetzer and his sons were largely responsible for the planting of the vineyards as they are today, with the remainder being largely Robert Crabtree’s more recent plantings of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, and a little more Riesling.
The estate today known as Crabtree Watervale Wines was originally founded in 1849 and was named “Pomona”. It was apparently a well respected orchard during the late 1800’s growing apples, plums, pears and currants.
It may have been partially replanted to vines for wine production when the property was purchased by Watervale vigneron, Valentin Mayr in 1888, but this is pure speculation given a photo from the early 1900’s clearly shows the homestead surrounded by orchards on the east facing slopes.
Certainly there were vines planted from the 1930’s, after the Glaetzer family purchased the property in 1930, renaming the estate “Fairview”. Surviving vines from the 1940’s still provide premium fruit for Crabtree estate wines today.
English born Robert Crabtree purchased the property in 1985 and built a small modern winery, He reconditioned the historic listed homestead and upgraded much of the vineyard. Robert’s vision was to develop a wine business modeled on the famous French Burgundy estates that are renown for their home grown wines that truly reflect the site the vines are grown
Robert realised his vision, quietly building a formidable array of wines that have won respect amongst his peers. He is one of very few Clare valley winemakers to be awarded the much coveted Mick Knappstein Trophy twice for best current release Riesling at the Clare Wine Show.
In 2007, Robert looked to take time out from his 25 year endeavor and sold the property. Today, Richard Woods and Rasa Fabian are the custodians of this rare Watervale jewel.
Details of landowners in the Pomona story.
Thankyou to local historian, David Spackman of Watervale.
The “Pomona” Watervale property Sections 142 and 143, each containing ‘ 80 acres or thereabouts’, were originally granted on the 1st December 1849 to Edward Drew of Adelaide, storekeeper, “under the hand and seal of Sir Henry Edward Fox Young Lieutenant – Governor”, on payment of 160 pounds sterling to the Colonial Treasurer.
In 1861 Edward Drew leased the land to George James Seyfang of Watervale. After Edward Drew’s death on 21 September 1863, in accord with his will dated 6 January 1862, ownership of the two Sections (still leased to Seyfang) passed to Samual Drew of Kooringa, storekeeper. On 29 September 1865 Samual Drew leased the property to Esther Emily Greenslade for five years with right to purchase at 160 pounds.
On 31 May 1869 (four months before Samual Drew died), the titles were transferred by sale to Charles Drew of Moonta, storekeeper, Robert Charles Andrews of Adelaide, importer, and Richard Gimbert Wilkinson of Adelaide, accountant.
On 21 April 1871 Drew, Andrews and Wilkinson sold to Paul Overton of Leasingham, farmer and William Kelly of Clare, farmer. In turn, they sold to Valentin Mayr of Watervale,vigneron, on the 28 April 1888.
Mayr sold the land to Thomas Charles Hockridge of Norwood, builder, on 7 July 1890.From Hockridge the was purchased by Ernest William Castine of Watervale, auctioneer, on 11 March 1901.
On 29 December 1908, Castine sold to Federick John Mutton of Watervale, gardener.
On 12 May 1916, Mutton sold portions of the two sections to the South Australian Railways and a new certificate of title was issued on 28 July 1916, redefining the boundaries of Sections 142 and 143, then constituting a total of ‘148 acres 2 roods and 20 perches or thereabouts’.
Walter Arthur Allen became the new owner when he bought from Mutton on 6 August 1920. Allen sold a portion of Section 143 to Alice Mary Hordacre on 25 February 1924. Again on the 17 September 1924, he sold portions 142 and 143 to Francis John Smith and a portion of 142 to Francis Kennith Smith. Allen sold a further portion of 142 and 143 to Joseph Andrew Bryksy on 16 January 1925.
Ownership of the remainder of the land (approximately the southern half of Section 143 including the homestead) was transferred to James Davis and Dorothy Harriet Davis of Brighton an 14 July 1925. A new title certificate was issued.
The Davises sold to Adolf Ernest Glaetzer of Clare, carpenter, 20 September 1930.
Robert Crabtree acquired the property in 1985 selling in 2007 to the current owners.
The Garden
The Crabtree Estate is located smack bang in the middle of the
famous Watervale sub district of the Clare Valley.
The 13.2 ha vineyard is planted to the following varieties;
Riesling 5.5 ha – planted between 1975/ 1982/ 1999
Semillon 0.3 ha – planted 1988
Cabernet Sauvignon 2.0 ha – planted 1988/2000
Grenache 1.2 ha – planted 1946
Shiraz 3.0 ha – planted 1055/ 1988/ 1991/ 1994
Tempranillo 0.7 ha – planted 1999/2003
All vineyards have row and vine spacings of approx 3.3m x 1.8m or 1,684 vines per hectare.
That’s 22,228 vines that are all hand pruned, hand picked and individually named.
Soils
The soils in Watervale are gradational red loam over limestone soils, slightly alkaline and having good water holding capacity which is considered to contribute greatly to the quality of Riesling.
There are two major Riesling blocks, one slope facing due East with North – South trellising and the other facing the South East with East – West trellising. Both cool vineyards protected from the hot northerly winds of summer. The soils on a separate Riesling vineyard are loam on shale (soft slate).
A significant proportion of the Shiraz blocks is red loam over sandstone (with a little ironstone). As the vineyard runs down the hill to the west, towards the old windmill block and the Riesling Trail, the soil changes from quite sandy soil to Bay of Biscay where Cabernet and Grenache are grown.
Water
The vineyard is essentially dry grown with limited water applied at the end of the growing season. Supplementary irrigation is via drippers. The dam on the property in conjunction with a bore (80 mtrs) supplies the supplementary water when required. No Murray River water is used.