MALONE WINES
OUR STORY
Our beginnings
The Malone family are descendants of Cornelius A. Malone who was born in 1869 in Mt Barker and married Annie White eldest daughter of Michael White of Millicent. Cornelius was the first of 4 generations of the Malone family to be involved in farming; over time owning and running a range of properties such as ‘Glen Roy’, ‘White Park’ and ‘Beamma’ within the South East Region.
Cornelius eventually purchased ‘Laurie Park’ Station to farm with his sons White and Ivan as a grazing and cropping enterprise. Ivan and his wife Constance purchased part of Laurie Park Station, from his family in 1930 and named it ‘Talinga’. The property ‘Talinga’ is the site of the family business, passed on from Ivan to his son Jim and Jims wife Rosemary.
The first plantings of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon (16.5 hectares) were established on the Malone property ‘Talinga’ in 1998. These plantings were the next step in the evolution of the farming business. The vineyard site was selected for its gentle slope and free draining loam soils over limestone, these features matched with the cool climate, support the production of premium red wine grapes.
In more recent years the plantings of Chardonnay (5 hectares) and Shiraz (2.25 hectares) occurred in 2002 and 2004 respectively. The Chardonnay was planted with a view to expand the range of varieties produced on the property and further capitalise on the cool climate characteristics of the Wrattonbully region.
In 2014 the Malone Wines purchased Mosquito Creek vineyard which is located in the heart of Wrattonbully with Cabernet Shiraz and Merlot the 3 varieties planted on the 10 Ha block established in 2002.
Quality is the main focus for both vineyards with the fruit ripening slightly earlier at the Mosquito Creek site even though the vineyards are less than 10 km apart helping logistically at vintage time.
Who is involved
The family connection is important to Jim and Rosie who have three children Will, Nick and Caroline. Today Will and Nick continue the family farming tradition with their families, while Caroline has chosen a teaching career, and lives with her husband Brad and 2 children Alice and Angus. Will and Jen have two boys Max and Sidney. Nick and Michelle have a daughter Annabel and sons George and Thomas.
Jim and Rosemary have worked together with their sons in initiating the vineyard and are involved in managing, maintenance and decision making from pruning through to picking. Jim and Rosie along with their family have spent many hundreds of hours in the vineyard tending with care to the vines from the rootling stage to the now well established 17 year old vines.
Nick and Will who both hold a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture from Roseworthy Agricultural College work together with their father Jim in the operation of the farm business. Will and Nick share a role in the operation of the vineyard and the broader farm enterprise, while Will has taken on managing the process of wine production and promotion. Michelle Malone, has a primary role utilising her technical experience as the family’s viticulturist. Michelle’s main role is monitoring soil moisture levels, decision making at picking time and ensuring the plants remain pest and disease free.