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Brown Brothers Established
John Graham plants 4 acres of vines at Milawa. He does not produce wine, but begins to master the best way to grow the vines. -
All Saints Established
All Saints established at Wahgunyah. -
Campbell's Vineyard Established at Rutherglen
Scottish immigrant John Campbell, who initially came to Australia to try his hand at the gold rush, founds Campbell's winery. He named his vineyard 'Bobbie Burns' after the nearby gold mine in which he had worked. -
Lindeman's Founded
Lindeman's founded at Corowa to meet increasing demand for heavy, sweet wines. -
Vines Planted at Bundarra
The first wines were planted at Bundarra, 5 miles south of Wangaratta, by a Mr Bailey. The winery stayed in his family for almost one hundred years - it was sold in 1972. Ned Kelly was said to be a frequent visitor at Bailey's winery. -
Demand for Australian Wine Grows
Up until this point, Australian wine had not been seen as particularly desirable. Around 1879, however, the demand for Australian wine began to increase, and smaller country wineries began to stock stores in Melbourne.
In particular, large quantities were bought from Antony Ruche, a German settler who founded 'Rosewood' vineyard near Corowa. This was because his neighbour was a publican, who travelled to Melbourne with a sample for others in his business. -
Wine Becomes a Premier Business
In the early 1880s, wine starts to become one of the premier businesses in the Wangaratta region. The wine growers of the North-East of Victoria are determined to establish themselves as the best wine growing region in Victoria. -
George Brown Plants 10 acres at Brown Brothers
Although vines had been planted at the property by John Graham nearly 30 years previously, no wine had yet been produced from them. George Brown, Mr Graham's son-in-law, took over the land and planted another 10 acres of vines. -
Wine is Booming
By the beginning of 1885, the numbers of acres of vines in Victoria has swelled from 700 to 3144. Wine is definitely the business to be in! -
First Wine Produced at Brown Brothers
The first batch of wine was produced at Brown Brothers in 1889, and the winery as we know it today came into being. It was produced by George Brown's son, John Francis Brown. -
Government Funds Vine Planting
The Government sees the potential of wine export, and offers 2 pounds an acre to anyone who is willing to plant approved vines. Many vineyards expand during this time, including Brown Brothers, who planted another 10 acres under the scheme. -
Rosewood Expands
Chambers family buys 'Rosewood' and expands. -
All Saints Second Largest in District
By now, All Saints has established 250 acres and is the second largest winery in the district. -
Bank Crash affects Exports
In 1891, a huge bank crash occurs in Victoria which drastically affects people's ability to purchase wine. The 2 pound Government subsidy had caused a vast over-production of wine, which meant that there was too much wine and no one to buy it. Many wineries begin to struggle. -
Mr Opie tries his hand at wine growing
Vines were planted at what is now Booth's vineyard at Bundarra by a Mr Opie. This provided a stepping stone for the phylloxera plague which was troubling the southern parts of the country, and it soon swept further into the north-east. -
Morris Winery - Largest in Region
Morris Winery at Rutherglen is by far the largest in the region, with 700 acres of vines. -
Phylloxera Outbreak Begins
The dreaded phylloxera plague reaches the Wangaratta region and begins wiping out huge plantations of vines. The phylloxera is a small insect which attaches itself to the roots of the vines. The only way to remove it is to uproot the vines, destroying the crop. The outbreak was to last for 15 years, and wipe out almost all of the vines in the Wangaratta region. -
Phylloxera Outbreak Ends
The phylloxera outbreak finally comes to an end, aftrer completely destroying the wine production industry in the Wangaratta region. -
Recovery Begins
The Wangaratta region finally begins to recover from the phylloxera outbreak, and new vines are planted at many vineyards. However, many people are afraid that the same thing will happen again, and do not replant vines. -
Booth's Winery Established
Mr Escar Booth bravely purchases Mr Opie's failed vineyard at Bundarra (where the phylloxera outbreak began in the North-East) and plants vines. -
2 Year Drought Begins
Weather conditions make grape-growing difficult in the Wangaratta region as a two year drought begins. -
Grasshopper Plague
A plague of grasshoppers destroys many of the grapes at several vineyards in 1938, including Brown Brothers. -
2 Year Drought Ends
The two year drought which had severely affected the wine-growing industry comes to an end. -
Italian Migrants
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, many Italian migrants moved to the Wangaratta area and began to grow tobacco and wine. -
Machines Enter the Wineries
Hydraulic grape presses start to replace hand presses, meaning that more wine can be produced in a much shorter period of time. -
Frost
Severe frost wipes out the 1968 crop at most vineyards. -
Birth of the King Valley Wine Region
Due to the success of Brown Brothers, many other people decide to try their hand at grape-growing. The King Valley quickly becomes one of the most successful wine regions in Victoria. -
Tobacco Fails, Wine Booms
Many Italian migrants leave the failing tobacco industry and move into wine production during the late 1970s and early 1980s. -
First Festival
The first wine and food festival is held in the Wangaratta wine region, with live music and the best food and wine from the region. -
Still Going Strong
The Wangaratta wine regions is still one of the most well-recognised wine regions in Victoria. There are now over 30 different well-known wineries in the area.
