Woodstock

The original Woodstock property was named by English settlers, after their hometown of Woodstock, near Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. The Townsend Family, headed by William Louis Townsend, received a Crown Lease for the property in 1905, built a home with a brick well and established the estate as a vineyard and orchard. It has been known as Woodstock ever since.

In the centre of the town of Woodstock in England stands a set of medieval wooden leg stocks, which were historically used for the public punishment of townsfolk who had over-imbibed. A replica of these stocks welcomes you at the entrance of Woodstock Estate in McLaren Vale. Incidentally, our much-revered single vineyard Woodstock ‘The Stocks’ Shiraz, sourced exclusively from 31 rows of old Shiraz vines (planted circa 1900), has been cheekily named after this set of stocks!

Situated about 35 kilometres South of Adelaide and 10 minutes East of the beaches, McLaren Vale is not only a convivial place to visit, it is also one of the oldest winemaking regions in Australia. It is bordered by Adelaide to the North, the Mount Lofty Ranges in the Southeast, and the Gulf of St Vincent to the West. Its six sub-regions, though not officially declared, are Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, Seaview, McLaren Flat, Willunga and Sellicks Foothills.

Woodstock lies between McLaren Flat and Blewitt Springs, east of the town of McLaren Vale. These sub-regions benefit from cool nightly gully breezes and are home to some of the best Chardonnays in the region. Coupled with long warm days, the reds from McLaren Flat tend to show opulence yet elegance and a structure more refined than many in the region.

McLaren Vale wine region has been described as one of Australia’s most consistent premium grape growing region. Its Mediterranean climate with warm sunny days and cool nights is ideal for growing grapes. Good winter and spring rains prepare the soil for the ripening months, reducing the need for irrigation – which is ideal as it preserves good berry flavour. As summer approaches, the days get gradually longer, with clear blue skies on bright sunny days.

Low humidity combined with good afternoon sea and gully breezes lessen the midday heat and helps the grapes ripen evenly. Cool nights ensure that the natural acidity in the berries is retained. Vintage in McLaren Vale usually starts in late February or early March depending on the growing season. Summer rains and frosts are a rare occurrence in the temperate climate of McLaren Vale. This adds to its appeal as a safe and consistent grape growing region for producing excellent quality fruit year after year.

The soils in Woodstock’s vineyards have varying depths of sandy loam over clay and then ironstone. The white sand reflects sunlight up under the vines, which enhances ripening. These sandy soils have little fertility or structure but are ideal for small yields of excellent quality grapes. They also hold little moisture, which results in smaller and more flavoursome berries.

To capture the essence of McLaren Vale, we strive for absolute quality, beginning in our old vineyards, through every phase of winemaking, to the wines before you, wherever that may be. The WOODSTOCK wine portfolio includes a range of fresh aromatic whites, opulent yet finely structured reds and finally, an eclectic selection of after-dinner wines.

We believe in capturing natural acidity and fresh grape characters in our whites and rosé.

WOODSTOCK reds are all about smooth tannins and purity of fruit. As grape tannins age on the vines, they become less bitter making their wines softer. WOODSTOCK reds are soft and approachable when young, yet with structure to age with cellaring.

Our aim is to put together balanced table wines with all the building blocks necessary for them to grow in flavour profile and intensity with careful cellaring.

WOODSTOCK founder Doug Collett had the foresight to make fortifieds to benefit future generations of wine lovers. His son Scott, continues those footsteps and releases consistent, evolving  quality classics.

The late Doug Collett A.M. served as a fighter pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force during World War II. While flying Spitfires and Hurricanes over much of Europe, he observed the vast vineyards, tasted the many wines of Europe and became captivated by the wine industry. On his return, he studied Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College and then immersed himself in the burgeoning wine industry in Australia. Rapid promotions followed which soon saw him take charge of Australia’s biggest winery in South Australia’s Riverland town of Berri. 

Doug always had a special regard for McLaren Vale as a wine region. He admired its climate, its natural beauty and more importantly its ability to produce opulent red wines. When an opportunity arose to purchase Woodstock Estate in 1973, he did so without hesitation, built a winery and crushed its first vintage in 1974. In 1985, Doug was awarded an A.M. for his mammoth contribution to the Australian wine industry. He published an autobiography describing five years in the air force and 50 years winemaking on his 80th birthday in the year 2000. His book entitled “Astonishing Luck in the Face of Incredible Odds” is available at Woodstock Cellar Door.