Chronicles
from The Australian Ark
The Chronicles is our archival stream — shorter pieces, notes, and images that add texture to Australia’s wine story. Some entries read like Reviews, others are photographs with captions — fragments that still carry meaning. Together, they form a running record that complements the deeper Journal.
Bottling line at Pipers Brook, 1989
Vigneron John Kirk in the Clonakilla cellars, 1977
Bruce Hill, Raphael Maldari, George Hill pruning, 1961
Landmark Wine: 1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah
Former biochemist Roman Bratasiuk, of Clarendon Hills in McLaren Vale, completely broke the mould during the 1990s. The Australian Wine Show system, through its awarding of trophies and gold medals, championed a narrow style range. The release of the 1996 Astralis (the 1994 vintage was the first Australian wine to be released at over $100 […]
Landmark Wine: 1922 Seppeltsfield Para Liqueur Port
The history of B Seppelt & Sons Para Liqueur Tawny Port goes back to 1902, although the brand name Para was only trademarked in 1923. Throughout the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s, there were various releases, including ‘old’, ‘medicinal’, ‘Barossa’, ‘family’, ‘red’, and ‘white’ Para labels. These first incarnations of Para were followed by ‘royal purple’, […]
Yalumba Winery Fruit Cannery Bond Distillery, c1890
The Wine Cellars Gables, Coonawarra, c1890s
Clarendon EJ Peake, c1860
