|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
In The BeginningsExtract from "The Winemakers Of Rutherglen" by Helen Mortensen
The winery was built in 1895 by Monsieur Joseph Gassies, whose vineyards were on the opposite banks of Sunday Creek where Pfeiffer's Sunday Creek vineyard now flourishes. Next door at the Tuileries vineyard lived Camille Reau, who is remembered as the last Rutherglen winemaker whose employees crushed grapes with their feet.
Gassies' winery was sold and during a period of strong demand for fortified wines it was enlarged by the noted Rutherglen partnership of Masterton and Dobbin, to become a distillery for the production of fortifying spirit. A brick house was built nearby for Charles Leonard Dobbin, and now serves as a comfortable home for the Pfeiffer family. The distillery was sold to B. Seppelt and Sons in 1942. Seppelt continued to distil fortifying spirit here until 1979.
Right from the start, Chris could see past this terrible mess into a brighter future for this grand old establishment. He managed to enthuse Robyn and, on the second try, a bank manager. Later, looking at Robyn's "before and after" photographs, the bank manager admitted that had he personally inspected the property he may not have approved the loan!
April 26, 1984 is a day that Robyn Pfeiffer will never forget. She recalls a feeling of absolute unreality as driving past the distillery on her way to the auction, she saw nothing to reveal that within hours, a split-second decision may turn that peaceful scene into the focal point of her life. Unaware and unconcerned, a team of pickers harvested Muscat grapes in the old Tuileries vineyards next door. Backed only by bank finance and Robyn's support Chris Pfeiffer was nevertheless well-qualified to start his own winery. At the auction Chris cast the winning bids for the old distillery, the house and an area of vineyards and grazing land across the creek. Robyn was immediately struck with a frightening uncertainty. How would the old-established Rutherglen winemakers feel about newcomers? Would they be welcomed, or rejected as interlopers? Within minutes her fears turned to astonishment, then gratitude as one after the other the winemakers of Rutherglen pumped Chris' hand, slapped his shoulders and welcomed him into their midst. As the realisation that the distillery was now their own finally sunk in, offers of practical assistance in getting started rang in the Pfeiffer's ears like joyous bells.
In true Rutherglen tradition, these were no empty gestures. Just as this close-knit community had so warmly welcomed and helped Reg and Jean Buller in the 1920's, they also helped Chris and Robyn with vineyard equipment and winery facilities until the old distillery could be re-commissioned as a working winery. Chris and Robyn started from scratch. The old buildings had to be cleared of rubbish, cleaned up and repaired. Equipment was purchased as soon as possible. Much of this came from Lindemans at Corowa - large oak casks, steel tanks, a press, a crusher and pumps; good quality equipment that was already very familiar to Chris. Chris's favourite item from Lindemans was a David Brown tractor. He was sweating on this at Lindemans' clearing sale because - in Chris' opinion - it was the best tractor there. Prospective buyers had been starting it all day without any trouble, and Chris' stress levels soared as the auctioneer, in a grand statement, called to the Lindemans mechanic "Start the tractor up, Alf!" And, Chris recollects with delight, the tractor would not start. "C'mon on Alf, start the tractor up!" Still, the tractor would not start. Bidding was far from brisk and shortly afterwards, a very pleased Chris Pfeiffer jump-started his favourite work-horse and drove it to Wahgunyah.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|||
