With a history dating back to 1842, Langmeil Winery is one of a few places where the blend of Barossa’s cultural beginnings with world-class winemaking can truly be experienced. Pioneer Christian Auricht first settled the trading site of Langmeil where he established what is understood to be the world’s oldest surviving shiraz vineyard, believed to be planted in 1843. Today, the winery grounds for
m a captivating pocket of Australian history, now owned by the Lindner family, whose own mark on the Barossa landscape spans six-generations of regional farming, food, community, and now wine. Recognising the rarity of this shiraz vineyard, the site was dedicated to Auricht (who fled his native Prussia to escape religious persecution) and named Freedom, from which family winemaker Paul Lindner crafts ‘The Freedom 1843’ Shiraz - a single vineyard, old vine wine, which holds the honor of ‘Excellent’ in the Langton’s Fine Wine Classification VI. Resurrecting Barossa’s aged vines is an undertaking Langmeil Winery continues to take in its stride since becoming custodian of the notable property in 1996. These winery-owned vineyards are now the foundation for its dedicated ‘Old Vine Garden’ wines that span the Barossa Old Vine Charter of 35 to 125+ year-old vines. A fine example is the ‘Orphan Bank’ Shiraz, which in a past life was a site of 320 vines planted pre-1860. Langmeil Winery saved the vines from a developer’s bulldozer, transplanting each vine one by one to its property with an incredible 95% success rate and a first for Barossa. In addition to these winery-owned vineyards, which include an Eden Valley site planted in 1890, Langmeil Winery works with Barossa’s multi-generational family grape growers who form the core of the region’s culture built on tradition, not trends. Having access to such diverse vineyard sites through these growers fortifies Langmeil’s philosophy to produce world-class red and white wines with individual style, while still maintaining the distinct hallmarks of Barossa. Through Paul’s passion to combine old world and new world techniques with minimal handling and intervention, the fruit’s full potential is captured. This is evident across all wines, yet perhaps more so in the Barossa ‘Valley Floor’ Shiraz; an expression of the region’s most renowned variety from many of its 30 original villages with a nod towards history and wine evolution, and recognised by the Barossa Trust Mark as a product of integrity and quality. The Langmeil range of wines can be enjoyed around the world or be experienced first hand at its Cellar Door in the Barossa. A visit will immerse you in the charm of an historic original Barossa trading settlement, with the old Stable now the place where visitors are hosted with friendly banter over the sharing and tasting of its award-winning wines.
