The Murphy family migrated to Australia in 1909. They are "Wine Geese" whose members originate from Irish migrants of the 17th and 18th centuries, some of whom left after the defeat of Hugh O’Neill and Hugh O’Donnell at Kinsale in 1601, others after the Williamite wars and the violated Treaty of Limerick in 1691 and others left because they wanted to. Anyway, many of them have become famous in the world of wine - Hennessy, Lynch, Boyd, Clarke, Barton, Kirwan and indeed Murphy to name but a few. Others stayed at home and made Guinness.
Trentham Estate was once part of a large sheep station called 'Trentham Cliffs'. After the Second World War the riverfront areas – bordering the Murray River - were developed into horticultural properties. The Murphy family were pioneers who established vineyards at Merbein in 1909. They moved to the property in 1960 and Trentham Estate was officially launched in 1988, although the first harvest was in 1984, using only 6 tonnes of grapes. The Murphy vineyards now spread over 50 hectares, with an annual crush of approximately 1,200 tonnes. Trentham Estate produced its first vintage in 1984 and they range now includes many innovative varities and some welcome wines of lower alcohol levels, down to 6.5% in the case of the scrummy Moscato, 8.5% in a Semillon/Sauvignon and 11.5% in a Vermentino. Although currently fashionable in Australia, Anthony Murphy is at the forefront of growing Italian varities.
Over the last fifteen years Trentham Estate has won over 300 awards - the winery has been awarded 'Best Tourism Winery 2008' at the New South Wales Tourism Awards - an outstanding achievement to win this award for 2 consecutive years.
2007 Sydney International Wine Competition - 2006 Chardonnay, Blue-Gold and selected Top 100
2007 Royal Melbourne Show - 2006 Voignier, Gold.
2007 Riverland Wine Show - 2006 Voignier, Gold; 2005 Cabernet/Merlot, Gold.
2007 Alternative Varieties Wine Show - 2007 La Famiglia Moscato, Trophy.
Lantana is well named after an aromatic tropical plant called Lantana. Both the Shiraz/Cabernet and the Semillon/ Chardonnay have no lack of flavour or aroma.
2006 Royal Queensland Show - 2006 Lantana Semillon/Chardonnay
Murphys is named after Murphys. These are easy drinking wines with lots of fruit. The Chardonnay is made from the first pressings to enhance the aroma and fruit flavour and is lightly oaked.
www.trenthamestate.com.au