OUR STORY
The Crest used on our label and in our branding was found in the Garner Family bible . It comes from Leon’s paternal Grand Mother and when translated means “Broken not Bent”, a very necessary trait for wine growing. It depicts the Fleur de Lise and the Horse, a mixture of French and English blood lines. We have a strong connection to this area through our forbears as they worked the gold fields in Whroo, Rushworth, Beechworth, Alexandra and Walhalla.
Rosie’s Great Great Grandfather started the first store and post office in Horsham in 1849. Tough pioneers who helped to shape this Country.
Our venture into viticulture happened almost by accident. Leon, a successful academic and Professor of Optometry who spent his career developing 5 year degree courses for New Zealand, Malaysia and Australia and in research projects in collaboration with various colleagues in Australia, Nepal, Spain, and Canada. Then at retirement we left our home of 27 years in Auckland and settled in the foothills of the Strathbogie Ranges in Central Victoria. It was here that our neighbour who was a very successful Shiraz producer suggested we plant a vineyard from cuttings we helped prune in the winter of 2005. No one at the time even dreamed of what our precious fruit might reward us with.
After only 2.5 years we harvested our first vintage in 2008. It won 5 awards and sold out in 12 months. This was just the beginning.
James Halliday who was a house guest in 2006 and 2007 gifted us one of his books, Wine Atlas Of Australia. He wrote inside the front cover “Good luck with the Granite House. Since you are jumping into an ultimate black hole in space, it is probably better you learn about it sooner rather later."
It was a journey into viticulture which we embraced and made it our goal to produce only the best fruit from a limited crop. The following Vintages all proved to be gold medal and Trophy wines having been tested on the palates of many National and International Wine judges.
Sadly in 2016 Leon passed away after a long battle with Cancer. Rosie continued for 2 more years and in 2018 after her last harvest she reluctantly sold the farm and vineyard but has kept all the Garners wine. You can purchase this multi national and international award winning wine from Rosie directly or through the website. To personalise your order, contact Rosie directly.