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Boulder inspired Mudgee veterans
Rick and Jenny Turner are as much a part of the Mudgee wine scene as the local landmark their winery is named after.
The Turners have been providing fruit for some of Australia's biggest producers for more than 30 years and when they decided in 1997 to open their own winery it was a frog-shaped granite boulder that inspired the name Frog Rock.
When the Turners arrived in Mudgee to establish their vineyard on the original land granted to explorer Henry Lawson, the western NSW township was undergoing a metamorphosis after some lean years.
Before the turn of the century no less than 50 vineyards adorned the Mudgee landscape but that changed dramatically in the ensuing years.
"When we first planted our first vines you could have counted the number of vineyards on the fingers of one hand, but, like our neighbours, Bob and Wendy Roberts (Huntington Estate), we had faith in the district to produce distinctive, full-flavoured table wines.
The success of brands like Huntington, Mirramar and Montrose proved that point.
Some of the nation's biggest companies now have a presence in Mudgee and heavyweight producers like Southcorp, Orlando, Wyndham, Rothbury, McWilliams and Beringer Blass are among the wineries procuring the Turners' fruit.
From 1983 the Turners produced smaller bottlings for their own use but it wasn't until 1997 that they decided to produce commercial quantities under the Frog Rock label.
The Frog Rock portfolio now includes chardonnay, rose, merlot, cabernet shiraz blend, chambourcin, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
Its latest releases, produced by outstanding winemaker Simon Gilbert, include the premium vintage 2001 chardonnay and the 2001 merlot.
The 2001 harvest may have been small in quantity but the quality was exceptional and part of it was used for Frog Rock's first premium vintage chardonnay. Tropical fruit, peaches, melons and apples dominate the nose and palate with nuttiness, subtle oak and creaminess.
The 2001 Merlot, from Frog Rock's new Top Block vineyard, features lovely sweet berry fruit and is ready to drink now1 .
Frog Rock Wines
Edgell Lane, Mudgee, NSW 2850 Region Mudgee T (02) 6372 2408 F (02) 6372 6924 frogrockwines.com Open 7 days 10– 5 Winemaker David Lowe, Simon Gilbert (Contract) Est. 1973 Dozens 5000 Vyds 40 ha The Frog Rock label was launched in 1997 by the Turner family, named after local frogshaped granite boulders on land granted to famous explorer and grazier William Lawson in 1823. The vineyard, on deep alluvial clay soils, employs minimal irrigation and sprays; plantings include cabernet sauvignon (13 ha), shiraz (12 ha) and chardonnay (4.5 ha), with lesser amounts of merlot, semillon, petit verdot and chambourcin. Exports to Hong Kong2
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3 April 2012
Iconic Mudgee label will close before end of 2012
The same year man landed on the moon vignerons Rick and Jenny Turner began their Mudgee journey, hand-planting vines on advice from family friend and Huntington Estate founder Bob Roberts. Today their journey takes a new direction.
After 43 years in the wine industry, iconic Mudgee label Frog Rock Wines has announced it will be closing its doors before the end of 2012.
A culmination of Rick and Jenny retiring, their family moving in different directions and an increasing competition in wine globally has led to Frog Rock Wines calling its last drinks.
Marketing director and family member Fi Turner said after 40 years in the industry the family was "very content and proud of our achievements to date".
"We wanted to let you know our story because you must not miss out on getting your last piece of our iconic Mudgee brand before it is too late and of course want a chance to say farewell to you at our last Easter weekend," she said.
In 2010 Tinobah Pty Ltd (trading as Frog Rock Wines) removed 22 hectares of grapes as a nation-wide initiative to help a worldwide glut. The company looked at intense alternate farming methods and planted hectares of lettuce as a possible new venture.
These were simply the things our family enjoy and wished to share with our friends and customers over the years," she said.
That year was also Frog Rock Wines' last full vintage.
Plans for the top vineyard (along Ulan Road) are still being decided. The homestead will remain and some of the rural property has been subdivided and will be sold.
Frog Rock Wines first leapt into the Mudgee wine scene in 1998 with the launch of their first vintage - a 1997 Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet.
At the time of launch they were already well-known by large Hunter Valley producers for premium fruit and were taking a huge step to sell under their own label.
Frog Rock Wines' 1998 Shiraz was branded the Best Value Shiraz in the World Challenge by Wine Spectator in the over $20 category in 1999 through wine critic Robert Parker. Trophies at home and abroad continued whilst they exported.
Fi said among the company's favourite drops were the 2003 Rick's Merlot featured in Winestate Magazine and the 2007 Petit Verdot winning Best Red of an unknown variety at Mudgee Wine Show.
Fi said helicopter joy rides became a customer favourite along with enjoying long picnics and music on a lazy afternoon.
"These were simply the things our family enjoy and wished to share with our friends and customers over the years," she said.
"In 1999 our larger plantings were introduced to include other varietals like merlot, chambourcin and petit verdot."
In 2005 Frog Rock Wines finished renovations on its cellar door setting the scene for their well known Flix in the Stix3 .
Halliday, James. James Halliday Wine Companion 2012, Hardie Grant Books, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/slnsw/detail.action?docID=787929.
Created from slnsw on 2023-08-15 06:06:43