Details unveiled for a 170th wine birthday party to remember

One of the most historic wineries in Australia will be celebrating its 170th birthday this weekend. 

Sevenhill Cellars can date its history back to 1848, when a Jesuit priest fleeing persecution in Europe - Father Aloysius Kranewitter - landed in Adelaide and then headed north with a group of over 100 German and Silesian migrants.

Amid the rolling hills of the Clare Valley they decided to settle and, after purchasing 100 acres of land in 1849, the young priest named the property Sevenhill in honour of the seven hills of Rome.

The creation of gardens and orchards were prioritised along with the building of basic accommodation and the first grapevines were planted in 1851.

Just five years later and the first wines of Sevenhill were produced and, in 1858, went on to win first prize at the Auburn Agricultural Exhibition.

The first of many firsts for the Clare Valley’s first winery.

Until very recently, seven generations of Jesuits made the wine at Sevenhill. The most recent was the late Brother John May, whose wine career began when he arrived in the Clare Valley in 1963. 

Brother May’s contribution to the wine industry was recognised as one of the initial inductees to the Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame in 2014 and with life membership of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia in 2004. 

Sevenhill Cellars began a new winemaking chapter in January 2019 with the appointment of Will Shields, with experience in the Hunter Valley, Margaret River, and New Zealand as well as at Kirrihill in the Clare. 

He says his aim is to make "balanced, elegant wines." 

Sevenhill  is throwing its doors open to friends, families of Sevenhill Cellars and the Clare Valley community on Sunday, September 19. 

Tuck into some locally produced food by Auburn Smoke House Catering Co including gourmet burgers and chicken bao buns, and kid-friendly options. 

Food and wine will be available for purchase with live music by Caitlin Drew along with lots of free activities such as mini golf and games on our lawns and face painting. 

Entry is free. 

Other birthday events include the 170th Launch Party with a launch of a new range of premium wines, Coffin Bay oysters and locally produced Middle Eastern morsels along with live music from Courteney Hooper and a special long lunch on the Saturday. 

These are all ticketed events. Visit www.sevenhill.com.au/sevenhill to secure your spots.