Cape d'Estaing

In 1993, four couples purchased a 200 hectare farm with the aim of establishing a vineyard capable of producing high quality grapes. Each person brings skills and ideas to the partnership, and participates in some way in the day-to-day running of the business (which now extends to wine production). Two couples reside on Kangaroo Island.

The owners were: Graham and Jude Allison, Alan and Ann Byers, Wayne and Margaret Conaghty, Robin and Heather Moody.

In the early days the vineyard suffered from the nightly raids of the local possum population and an electric fence was soon erected to deter them. At veraison (late January), the crows pay too much attention to the crop, and the entire vineyard has to be netted until vintage in early to mid March. The vineyard is relatively free of disease, partly because of the island location, and partly because of the summer winds and low rainfall.