The Winemaker
Anton van Klopper got started in cookery and hospitality management, but after 10 years being exposed to great wine; it was time to get his hands dirty. Anton graduated with first class honors from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science, Oenology.
Anton spent the first several years after University travelling the world doing vintages in Germany, New Zealand and in Oregon, USA. “I was lucky enough to work with many winemakers that challenged my conceptual ideas of winemaking. By the time I was at Domaine Serene (Oregon), I understood that all great wines express where they are from and anything that steals from that expression makes for dull wine. A good winemaker must have an intimate knowledge of every part of the vineyard.”
2002, with wife Sally and daughter Lucy, Anton purchased a 16 acre cherry orchard and began creating their own “Domaine” in the Adelaide Hills. “We aim to produce wines that express themselves. To achieve this at the highest level I would never consider adding yeast, bacteria, acid, sugar or any of the other artificial or natural additives. A winemaker can choose to be an artist or a chemist. I believe that winemaking is a craft; all our decisions are made with the aid of a wine glass and traditional skills, with the aim of developing the wines true identity.”
We are now part of the Basket Range community and take small parcels of fruit from friend’s small vineyards that surround this unique part of the Adelaide Hills.