Leconfield Coonawarra’s celebrates five decades with its Sparkling Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay grown on the estate. It’s the winery’s first sparkling wine with the Estate label. Leconfield Noble Riesling, from one of the late founder Sydney Hamilton’s original vineyards planted in 1975, was used to complement the Chardonnay, adding finesse to its cool-climate crispness.
Leconfield Coonawarra’s will raise a glass to the history of Leconfield and Sydney’s original vision in the 70s, serving the sparkling wine at its cellar door on Saturday, 7 December 2024, from 12pm to 5pm. The free family-friendly event will feature live music from Limestone Americana, food from Lumberjack’s BBQ, coffee, lawn games and, of course, Leconfield wines.
The story of Sydney
As Sydney neared retirement, he chose not to relax but instead to dig a cellar, plant vines, and fulfil his lifelong ambition to produce a classic Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
At the age of 76, Sydney chose 30 hectares of prime Terra Rossa land in southern Coonawarra and named the estate ‘Leconfield’ after his English ancestor, Lord Leconfield.
As Mark Shield from The Melbourne Age wrote in 1992: “I watched him [Sydney] for some time; a short, bent old man with a shovel in his hands, hardly puffing… he reluctantly dropped the shovel. ‘So, you are interested in wine, but are you interested in the soil?’ I said I could take it or leave it, and he nodded sadly. ‘That’s the trouble with you young people, you don’t understand the importance of the soil. I’d expect better from a bloke with your colour hair; it’s almost as good as this soil.'”
After 65 vintages, Sydney retired in 1981, and the estate was taken over by his nephew, Dr Richard Hamilton, the great-great-grandson of Richard Hamilton, who had emigrated from the UK in 1837 at the age of 45 and played a key role in the development of the South Australian wine industry.
Leconfield Coonawarra’s 50th anniversary celebration will be held at its cellar door on Saturday, 7 December, from 12pm to 5pm.
Find Leconfield Coonawarra at 15454 Riddoch Highway, Coonawarra or visit leconfieldcoonawarra.com. Cellar door open seven days a week
