Welcome to Poonawatta
Through the vision of my parents, the original Poonawatta Shiraz vineyard planted in 1880 returned to the Poonawatta property in 1971, having been carved off in 1922 as a part of WW1 soldier repatriations. This old vineyard is the centrepiece of our crown, and it’s such a privilege to be the custodians of these wonderful old vines, the oldest vineyard in the area. With only 900 or so original vines remaining, it’s a real living treasure.
My parents added the Riesling vineyard in 1972, and from 1978 to 1982, cutting by cutting, row by row, another small Shiraz vineyard. Michelle and I planted the third Shiraz vineyard in 2007, and a Grenache vineyard in 2019. These blocks produce the single vineyard estate wines.
We also purchase fruit from other Eden Valley growers for our regional series wines. It’s great to be able to extend our passion for Eden Valley by supporting local growers and making special single-vineyard wines they can be proud of. Ultimately though, it is about family. That’s farming after all; respecting the history of ones’ forbears and protecting and nurturing the land and vines for the future. As a boutique producer of small volume hand-crafted artisan wines, we draw on our history, heritage and community to create wines of authenticity and a sense of place, with a passion that strives to attain the best from every vintage.
Generations
Our Eden Valley heritage began in 1855 when James Heggie worked his passage to Australia from Scotland. James accrued far-reaching grazing interests and was a significant supplier of wine grapes to Yalumba. In 1860 he secured a parcel of land just east of here, naming it Burn Brae.
James Heggie 2nd (known as J.P.) was born in 1870, and along with his three brothers, managed the pastoral properties and vineyards established by their father. J.P.’s brother Otto headed to Hollywood and carved out a successful acting career. Roy took his farming interests to Queensland, leaving J.P. and William to run the South Australian properties.
J.P married in 1907, and in 1913 gave birth to their third son Colin. Colin had an adventurous streak and worked his way to England aboard the Archibald Russell. On his return, he married Enid Lillecrapp and built a home on the Burn Brae property. His eldest daughter Sue was born in 1940 while Colin was away at war. Colin was a local character and at times, a colourful rogue, spawning many stories that have become local folk law.
In 1966, Sue was living in Adelaide, newly married to her husband John, and missing the country life. In September of that year, Poonawatta was on the market and going to auction. Having just started a family, they were in no position to purchase a farm. Colin liked a drink, and with a few under his belt, he attended the auction. Later that day, Sue received a phone call from her father.
“How did the auction go? Who bought Poonawatta?” asked Sue.
“You did,” replied Colin. “And you owe me ten thousand dollars!”
And that’s how Poonawatta came into the Heggie-Holt family.
Sue and John set about restoring the property and the neglected 1880 vines and added additional vineyards in the 70s and early 80s. Son Andrew and wife Michelle established the Poonawatta wine brand in 2002, while Andrew’s brother runs the Burn Brae property. Today, fifth and sixth-generation descendants of James the 1st continue the Eden Valley legacy.
Poonawatta’s Aboriginal History – The Peramangk Peoples
Poonawatta takes its name from the language of the Peramangk Peoples, the traditional custodians of the Mount Lofty Ranges and Eden Valley region. The Peramangk referred to this area as Poona-Watta, meaning ‘Good Country’.
By the time Poonawatta’s first vineyard was planted in 1880, European settlement had encroached on much of the Peramangk territory. Gwen and Eleanor Temple lived at Poonawatta from 1891 to 1922, and in 1967 they met with new owners, Sue and John Holt, and shared their memories of Poonawatta and the Peramangk Peoples. They spoke of corrobborees near the river just south-west of here, and a camp on the creek-flat east of the dam. Near the cellar door is a ‘scar tree’, scarred from the removal of a large area of bark, and just west of the house survives a hollowed red gum used for shelter and storage.
In the book The Ochre Warriors, author Robin Coles writes, “seasonal and sporadic revisiting of ceremonial trade sites took place until the late 1890s.” It is likely the Temple daughters were witness to some of the last Peramangk Peoples to inhabit the region.
Caves and rock shelters exist throughout the greater Eden Valley area, many with remnant ochre drawings and rock engravings. A Peramangk ochre mine is located north-east of here. Numerous hollowed-out red gums occur across the region, while others display the scars of bark removed to make shields or bowls.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Peramangk Peoples as the traditional custodians of this land, the Eden Valley region and beyond. We recognise their continued connection to the earth, rivers and creeks, and the flora and fauna of this beautiful place, and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Written with the assistance of Peramangk / Kaurna Elder, Ivan-Tiwu Copley O.A.M.
The Eden Valley Region
The high country of Eden Valley is one of Australia’s premier cool climate wine regions, characterised by its rugged beauty, with vineyards scattered across hills and valleys, sharing the terrain with grazing land, rocky outcrops, remnant bushland and ancient gums.
Eden Valley and Barossa Valley adjoin through the Barossa Ranges, and together the two regions form the Barossa.
Like the Barossa Valley, the Eden Valley crafts world-class Shiraz, their style and finesse reflective of the longer ripening season. Eden Valley is renowned for its Rieslings, the crisp cool to cold nights suiting this beautiful aromatic variety. The elevated cooler climate of Eden Valley is what defines the region and its wines as a unique part of the Barossa.
With a winemaking history dating back to 1847, Eden Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz and Riesling vineyards. Fifth and sixth-generation descendants of the original settlers continuing to apply their craft, joined by a new generation with a common focus on sustainability and authenticity.
To the visitor, Eden Valley is a hidden gem, off the tourist track, not exploited or over-developed, waiting to be discovered. It offers authenticity; down to earth passionate people in the pursuit of perfection in applying their craft, hardworking with the tradition, culture and heritage of generations. Big in Eden Valley is small everywhere else.
Ultimately though, Eden Valley is one thing above all else – beautiful. Its beauty is displayed through the wines, the vineyards, the captivating landscape, the picturesque scenery, the natural environment, the old homesteads and churches, and the character of its people.
Old Vines
Old vines are living remnants of Australia’s pioneering winemaking heritage. The low yields, rich history and romantic mystique of old vines make every bottle an expression of place; their gnarled and free-form shapes telling of the past through the stories and important history attached to them.
Barossa is home to some of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in the world. The Barossa Old Vine Charter was established to register vines by age so that these important vineyards are preserved. An Old Vine is recognised at 35 years of age. Vines exceeding 70 years are classified as Survivors.
Centenarian vines exceed 100 years of age and have impressively stood the test of time. They produce low yields of intensely flavoured grapes, which translate into wines with character and concentration.
An Ancestor vine has stood strong and proud for at least one hundred and twenty-five years. They tend to be low-yielding vines with great intensity of flavour, believed to be among the oldest producing vines in the world. The survival and stamina of these rare old vines are a testament to the generations of dedicated families who have long cultivated and cared for them. Poonawatta’s The 1880 Shiraz is an Ancestor vineyard.
Old vines produce wines of great finesse, depth and balance. Their deep root systems deliver more consistent fruit each vintage, regardless of seasonal conditions. They typically have less vigour, resulting in smaller yields with great concentration, complexity and structure.
Through the vision of Sue and John Holt, the original Poonawatta Shiraz vineyard planted in 1880 returned to the Poonawatta property in 1971, having been carved off in 1922 as a part of WW1 soldier repatriations. This Ancestor vineyard is the centrepiece of our crown, and we are privileged to be the custodians of these wonderful old vines. Affectionately called "the elders", the surviving vines are some of the oldest in Australia.
Environmental, Sustainable and Regenerative
Poonawatta takes its name from the Peramangk language; poona means “good” and watta means “country”. Good Country - credentials that sit well with the regenerative farming approach taken on the Poonawatta property.
Regenerative agriculture strives to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem. Principles include minimising soil disturbance, increasing organic matter and microbial activity, improving soil water-holding capacity, and reducing erosion. Regenerative practices pull carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in the soil.
Regenerative farming recognises that nature is our most important business partner.
At Poonawatta, we have focused on several core initiatives:
- In the vineyard, we have curated a permanent sward of predominantly native grasses, creating a natural regenerative vegetative ecosystem.
- Organic under-vine mulching improves soil health and retains moisture.
- Winter season grazing reduces weeds and generates manure.
- Specific native plant species established around the vineyards encourage beneficial insects.
- Ecological grazing supports the building of soil biodiversity and increases organic matter via rotational time-controlled livestock movement.
- Introduction of Bison dung beetles; these winter active soil heroes bury dung deep into the subsoil, increasing soil moisture, nutrients and microbial activity.
- Extensive replanting of local native plants creating wildlife corridors and habitats, increasing bird species, reducing erosion and improving water quality. Except for the mature gums, the ‘bushland’ seen from the cellar door has all been hand-planted.
- Adding floral diversity by introducing drought and heat-tolerant native plants from the Flinders Ranges.
Poonawatta is part of The Wildlife for Wine project, which establishes Biodiversity Action Plans focusing on conserving natural resources, ecological viability and regeneration.
“We are custodians; every decision is balanced between the now, the next year, the next decade, and the next generation.”
