Our Vineyards
QuartzVein Vineyard
The Cofield Wines QuartzVein vineyard was one of the principal selection criteria for the location of the winery. The free draining clay/loam soils of Rutherglen are enhanced on this sight by a barren gold reef depositing fingers of quartz throughout the site. These quartz “veins” enhance the continental climate of Rutherglen by trapping the sun’s heat during the warm autumn days and releasing this warmth over the cool nights to produce grapes with harmonized ripeness levels across sugars, colours, flavours and tannins. The vineyard is approximately 10 acres (4.1 hectares) in size and planted to 7 varieties (Shiraz, Durif, Malbec, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Muscadelle). Handpicking and careful barrel selection further enhance the quality of wines from this vineyard. The careful culling of fruit and barrels also leads to smaller production levels limiting quantities of each wine from between 100 to 600 dozen dependent on vintage quantities and quality.
Wahgunyah Viticulture
Wahgunyah Viticulture is our vineyard located on the outskirts of Wahgunyah and a stone’s throw from the Murray River. It is the original vineyard established by Cofield Wines and was chosen because it is a good location for irrigation needs and has free draining deep sand which allows the vine roots to go down to the river level.
Wahgunyah Viticulture is trellised differently to the QuartzVein Vineyard, which is a single wire, Vertical Shoot Position, Scott Henry variation. The trellis system at Wahgunyah Viticulture was originally Scott Henry. It has since been altered to a Vertical Shoot Position system to reduce the risk of disease and enhance the fruit flavours of the grapes.
The vineyard is approx 10 acres and is planted to 5 varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Semillon). Wahgunyah Viticulture is mainly handpicked with crop levels being maintained at 3-4 tonne per acre.
Netherby Vineyard
Netherby, our new vineyard purchased in February 2007, is a 50-acre block situated on Grahams Lane between Rutherglen and Wahgunyah. The Lane draws its name from the Graham family who first settled this land back in 1859. John & Ann Graham from Longtown, County Cumberland, across the River Esk from Netherby Hall in Scotland, eventually planted out some 720 acres of vines in the Rutherglen area and kept tradition by naming one of the family homes on the property "Netherby" after their Scottish roots. Sir Walter Scott talks of the "Netherby Hall" and the "Graeme's of the Netherby clan", which actually links back to this same family that settled in Rutherglen, more than a century ago.
Pioneering the way of winemaking in Australia, we give great credit to these early vignerons in our region. Historically, Netherby was part of Graham’s vineyard, which was returned to pasture during a down turn in the industry many, many, many years ago. The original 720 acres has sold off several parcels over the years and in 1999, Phil Brain (a friend of Damien’s), purchased the 50 acres we now call Netherby and began vine planting with 13 acres of Shiraz. Cofield Wines have since purchased the vineyard from Phil and we plan to plant more vines, commencing with 1 acre of Viognier planted in 2007.