For wine lovers David and Diana Anderson, the dream of growing vines and making wine began in 1972 with the purchase of their first block of land in Heathcote. Then in 1980 came the first plantings, which is now the much-adored Alans Cabernets vineyard. Named after David’s father who passed shortly after planting finished.
David has built over 30 vineyards throughout Victoria and southern N.S.W, predominantly in the Yarra Valley and Macedon Ranges. He started winemaking as a hobby in his backyard shed in Hurstbridge, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne, often involving plenty of friends which is a practice still enjoyed today. Until the Alans Cabernets vineyard began bearing fruit, David sourced small parcels of fruit from vineyards close to their home to make his first wines.
With dreams of raising a family in the country, Diana and David decided to follow their hearts and move to Heathcote in 1991. That being the first vintage commercially available of Wild Duck Creek Estate’s Alans Cabernets and Springflat Shiraz. Once living and settled in Heathcote, David set about laying the foundations of what is now the main hall of the winery, which held all 15 or so barrels, a few small tanks, a basket press and a crusher. The philosophy of minimal intervention winemaking with a focus on absolute fruit quality, and the judicious use of the very best oak, is what David says great wine is all about. “From day one Diana and I have been focused on creating the best fruit expressions from selected vineyards, and let the vines make the wine. To us, that is what wine is all about.”
Since then, the business has grown slowly but steadily to what it is today. Their son, Liam, has also entered the mix, completing his Wine Science degree in 2007. Liam has also embarked on his own vineyard plantings 2kms from the winery on a site facing north east as the original Springflat vineyard does. His 10 years experience and observation has allowed him to take a key role in the management of the vineyards and winemaking.
“I’ve been lucky enough to draw on dad’s 25 or so years viticultural experience in the early years as well as gaining my own along the way. Dad let me try my hand at pruning when I was just 12 years of age on a select few vines in our Alans Cabernets vineyard. He said the best way to learn about vine and flavour development, is to prune the vines and watch their reaction through the growing season. Making sound viticultural decisions is the basis of creating the best wine possible from any particular site. He, better than anyone has taught me the relationship between the vineyard and the resulting wine, and knowing that making great flavour in the vineyard is how to make great wine.” Liam says.
We now have access to up to 10 vineyard sites within the Heathcote region, giving our wines depth, complexity and most importantly, consistency.