Genders McLaren Park Wines is a family owned vineyard and winery which produces unique parcels of premium quality wines under its own Genders label.
The wines are made from Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes grown on the family’s ten hectare vineyard known as McLaren Park. The vineyard and winery are in the centre of the McLaren Vale region on the eastern fringe of the township of McLaren Vale.
The vineyards which surround the winery are on the distinctive, black Bay of Biscay soil. This is underlain by limestone, which is often quite near the surface. The property is bisected by Pedler Creek, and on the other side of the creek is reddish brown clay.
Keith Genders has owned and operated the vineyard for fifty five years. Keith and his daughter Diana carry out all aspects of the viticultural work and winemaking.
Both sides of the Genders family have a tradition in viticulture and winemaking which goes back to the early days of the settlement of South Australia in the mid-1800s (see section on family winemaking history).
Keith was a vigneron until 1968. In 1968 he erected the first of the winery sheds and started making his own wine. It was the first of the new small wineries in McLaren Vale.
There was quick recognition of the wines for their distinctive richness, ethereal aromas and their long aging potential.
Diana is the wine maker. She has a Bachelor degree in wine science and has worked in several wineries such as Hardy's, Barossa Valley Estates, Andrew Garrett Wines and Tolley Wines where she was winemaker for six years. She also has many years of judging experience and was selected for judging via the Australian Wine Research Institute judge-training programme. She is currently a wine export panelist with the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. In 1997 after consulting to wineries in the South west of France, Diana decided that it was time to return to the family property. Production of bottled wine is less than two thousand dozen per annum.
Genders’ dedication to quality before quantity has won exclusive market niches in Australia, Singapore, Denmark and France.
Genders Family Winemaking History
Diana's great great grandfather (Keith’s great grandfather), Buxton Forbes Laurie, was one of the earliest vignerons south of Adelaide, planting his first vines in 1853 on the Fleurieu Peninsula, near Middleton. He then built a winery, Southcote, and gained his distillation licence in 1863. Much of the wine was bottled and sent to England. Buxton died in 1876. His widow, Mary Laurie, continued the business and was the first registered lady vigneron, and winemaker, in South Australia.
Diana's great grandmother on her mother Rosemary’s side, is the other prime contender for the title of “first lady winemaker in South Australia”. Horace Pridmore (Diana's great grandfather) owned and operated the Woodley Winery in Glen Osmond during the early 1900’s. When he died, his widow, Amy, continued the business for a further fifteen years until her death in 1926. She was well known for her fine palate.
Horace’s brother, Cyril Pridmore, built the winery in the middle of McLaren Vale which is now known as Tatachilla.
The Family Crest
The family crest was the seal brought to Australia by J.C.Genders, Diana’s great great grandfather in the mid 1800’s. The family still has the seal.
Keith Genders purchased the property of McLaren Park in 1948. It is located on Park Drive, on the eastern fringe of the town of McLaren Vale, and comprises eleven hectares.
The two predominant soil types are black Bay of Biscay underlain by limestone (which often lies at the surface), and reddish brown clay.
Pedler Creek bisects the property
Keith was a vigneron until 1968. In 1968 he erected the first of the winery sheds and started making his own wine. Genders was the first new winery in the area in fifty years. There was quick recognition of the wines for their distinctive richness, ethereal
aromas and their long aging potential.
Keith's daughter (Diana) obtained a Bachelor degree in wine science in 1988 and worked in several wineries, such as Hardy's, Barossa Valley Estates, Andrew Garrett Wines and Tolley Wines, where she was winemaker for six years. In 1996 Diana completed a vintage in the south west of France, in Armagnac.
In 1997 Diana commenced working as winemaker in the family business with her father, Keith.
In carrying on the vineyard and winery Diana continues a family winemaking tradition, from both sides of her family, particularly by females, which harks back to the earliest days of the colony of South Australia. Her great great grandmother operated a vineyard and winery on the Flerieu Peninsula during the late 1800s, and her great grandmother operated a winery in Glen Osmond, South Australia, during the early 1900s.
Total production of Genders wine is less than two thousand cases. The wines are distributed in Singapore, China and France. In Australia the wines are served at fine restaurants and clubs to serious lovers of authentic food and wine styles.
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