OUR STORY
For 175 years, our family has proudly tended vineyards which all began on the banks of Jacobs Creek in 1848. We are the keepers of a legacy that spans generations, a legacy that has weathered challenges and embraced triumphs. As we reflect on our journey, we realize that winemaking is an art of patience, where balance rewards those who persevere. And today, we extend our hand to you, inviting you to share in our remarkable stories.
Scott Higginson is seventh-generation family custodian, and visionary behind keeping this family legacy alive. Our story begins in 1838 when ancestors arrived in the newly formed South Australia colony following 3 month sea voyage from home country Prussia, at which they fled due to relentless religious persecution. One can only begin to imagine what thoughts passed my great, great, great, great, great grandfathers mind as they stepped off the boat amongst the hot, muddy marshlands they made up Adelaide shoreline at that time. Such an extended period of travel with wife and 6 children (youngest only 6 months old), must have taking its toll. Yet the positive feeling of finally arriving would have quickly passed once ashore, standing there dressed in traditional European attire of heavy men's suites and ladies layered with garments and long frocks under a blistering January hot sun before somehow arranging to have horse and wagon shuttle them down a pothole ridden goat track that would lead them out of the marsh away from the ocean and an hour East to finally arrive to what we now know as Adelaide CBD.
Jump forward 5 years after having carved a living from farming and supplying assortment of fresh produce to town folk out of there little plot of dirt on the Torrens river that is now an area we call Klemzig. In 1843 the family packed up all again and were amongst the second wave of German migrants to head North and pioneer land at Langmeil (now Tanunda), following onto the similar opportunities gifted the first group of Germans when they settled the Bethany area. This was all thanks to the generous philanthropist George Fyfe Angas.
Johann (George) Mattner and then son 18yrs old Johann (Gottfried) Mattner were fortunate enough to accept the opportunity to become 'Naturalised' Australians through ceremony not long after arriving in country, although I don’t believe they fully understand what that really meant. Several years later in 1846 Government released for sale 'special surveyed' parcels of land on the banks of Jacobs Creek for 2 pound per/ acre. George soon realised that he was in the enviable position of being able to purchase a plot of this land. Other new comers and neighbours were Johann Gramp (went on to establish Orlando Wines) to the East along with John and brother William Jacob who set up to the neighbouring West. The rest they say is history, the family continued on the same patch of dirt for the next 5 generations and some 111 years before being sold by my grandfather.
Scott's wine journey traces back to his beloved grandfather, the late Dennis Morgen, who founded Vindana Wines in 1968. Driven by determination, Dennis took a leap of faith having had the large wine producers of the time turn their backs on him many other growers due to oversupply.
With spirit burning hot in the belly, true grit and definably an element of naivety, he crushed and processed the grapes himself, and thus, Vindana Wines was born. The name "Vindana," derived from the Australian First Nation term "windana," meaning "which way" or "turning point," symbolized the challenge he faced and the resilience it demanded.
Dennis having only completed up to grade 7 at Rowlands Flat school before having to return home and work the family property and in the cellars of Wonthagi wines for Anton Fromm and young Hermann Thum, meant he lacked formal qualifications in oenology and although practically he could achieve, the world and science of winemaking was beginning to change quickly in the late 60's, so he sort wisdom firstly from his uncle (Alf Scholz) the general manager at Penfolds (the very man who employed a young Max Schubert as a 15 yr old message boy) and also a dear and trusted friend in Doug Collett (Berri Winery), who guided him in the art of wine chemistry. Wasn’t long in an industry and community like this that he soon found more help appear in the arrival of who was to become a very dear friend and mentor, the recently retired winemaking legend from Seppeltsfield (Mel Bell), who upon his death a few years later and having served 50+ years at Seppeltsfield had amassed a set of winemaking journals, notes and viticultural records and correspondents dating back to early turn of the century which were his wishes to be passed onto Dennis, who in turn passed onto Scott.
With a relentless spirit and an unwavering commitment to keeping Vindana Wines a "family affair," Dennis triumphed. However, like many stories of the era, the mid-1980s saw unforeseen challenges, leading to the closure of the winery.
Now, as the seventh-generation vigneron and re-founder of Vindana Wines, Scott Higginson steps onto the stage. Growing up in his grandfather's shadow, amidst concrete, stainless steel, and oak barrel jungles, Scott absorbed every word, finding his passion for wine ignited. After graduating from Roseworthy Agricultural College, his path took him far and wide across the industry, humbling him with diverse perspectives.
Serendipity led Scott back to the families place of origin in the Barossa Valley, where he bought some small acreage around Rowlands Flat area, not far from where it all began. Although tertiary disciplined in wine marketing, by this period Scott had strung together 10 vintages of experience in numerous roles with both large corporate and small family wine producers. He began tinkering in the back shed (no to dissimilar to the primitive early years of youth, when in high school landed himself in some hot water as result of a bootlegging enterprise he allowed to become a little to enthusiastic..). Holding down a corporate role by day to ensure he could provide for his young family and pay the bills on his small property, boredom and frustration grew. Yet motivated by a passion, he was always eager to get home and work late into the evenings forever learning from whatever resources he could attain and not to mention the numerous events of trial and error he continued to hone his craft not only in small batch winemaking, but brewing, distillation and even the ancient art of barrel coppering.
Despite the challenges, he slowly gained confidence through positive feedback and response towards his wines from industry peers, friends and family which along with the fear of another 'near –miss incident' with the establishment as in those early years of bootlegging was enough to pave the way towards legitimate standing and revival of Vindana Wines. Yet on the cusp of a global upheaval, including a pandemic and import tariffs, Scott not only persisted but threw caution to wind and stepped away from the securities of a day job to focus on developing this small eneterprise into a business that would support the family and fulfil a dream. Looking back and now having transitioned out of the unforeseen challenges that transpired as a result of covid-19, he admits if knew what was coming he may have played things a little safer, but to late once you jump.
It is often said that success of small business falls down to two things hard work and luck. Fortune would have it that Vindana submitted two wines for review with James Hallidays Wine Companion and to Scott's surprise we achieved an outstanding 95-point rating for each of the wines and resulting a "5 Star Winery" classification in the Halliday Wine Companion. This publication of results was enough leg up required for Vindana to acquire from brand awareness in the market place and in turn create a sales funnel to pull through all stock on on hand.
Three years later and we have continued to survive and only just recently received notice that James Halliday 2024 wine companion has once again rated all three submissions (2022 Grenache, 2021 Cabernet and 21 Shiraz) 95 point rating and continue to maintain our '5 star winery' status.
Now, with glass raised high, we invite you to be part of our extraordinary journey. Join us in celebrating 175 years of continuous family grapegrowing and winemaking and experience the timeless traditions of the Barossa Valley. Cheers to a shared passion for wine and the indomitable spirit that propels us forward. As our family motto goes, "if you stay at it long enough, a balance will come about and reward you for all your efforts." Let us toast to better times, to the stone-etched memories of the past, and to the promise of a radiant future, all in the embrace of Vindana Wines – Keeper of the Stones, Barossa Valley.
