The establishment of Sandalford Wines in the Swan Valley in 1840 coincided with both the first European settlement at the Colony of Perth and the birth of Western Australia's world famous wine industry.
In 1970, Sandalford was one of three initial pioneers of the Margaret River wine region (considered by many as one of the world's truly great premium wine growing locations) when the first vines were planted at its 300 hectare vineyard at Wilyabrup.
Sandalford’s wine and wine tourism facilities have developed iconic status since the Prendiville family acquired the business in 1991
Today, they are extremely proud to be one of this country's oldest and largest family-owned winemakers.
2016 is a milestone year for the company because it is 25 years since the Prendiville family took over from the descendants of its original founder, John Septimus Roe.
Under the guidance of the Prendivilles, who remain true to their long term vision for the progressive evolution of Sandalford Wines, both the Swan Valley and Margaret River operations have been extensively developed. Today the company's portfolio of wines - along with its wine tourism, concert, retail and restaurant facilities - are recognised among the very best in Australia and are consistently regarded as world class.
In one of Australia’s most sustainable wineries, they create their current collection of Prendiville, Estate Reserve, Margaret River Range and Element award-winning wines. With advanced viticultural practices and a progressive winemaking team, they bhave a long-standing reputation for quality and exceeding expectations at every price point.
HISTORY
John Septimus Roe become Western Australia's first Surveyor General after an illustrious career in the British Navy. An accomplished explorer and mathematician, he worked in the New South Wales colony from 1817 to 1827 before accepting the West Australian role in 1829.
In 1840, after 11 years of service which included overseeing the development of colonies at Fremantle and Perth, he was rewarded for his efforts by Queen Victoria with the bequest of 2,000 acres of land along the Swan River in Caversham.
He named the Swan Valley property Sandalford, and soon planted the first vines there. The property flourished and wines produced from its vines satisfied the requirements of the local community for decades.
The winemaker at Sandalford Wines from the mid 1960s to the late 1970s was Dorham Mann - son of famed wine-making pioneer Jack Mann. Under Dorham's advice, the Roe family expanded into the Margaret River region in the South West of Western Australia.
This area had earlier been assessed by Dr John Gladstone as being an ideal climate and terrior for growing premium wine grapes, with its general conditions likened to the famed region of Bordeaux in France. Based on this, the Roe family purchased a 280 hectare property and planted vines in 1970.
This Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River has gone on to be one of the most famed wine producing areas in all of Australia, and indeed is recognised on the world stage for amazing Cabernets, Chardonnays and now Shiraz.
1840 and 1970 will always be very important milestones in the history of Sandalford Wines, and as they look to the future with great optimism and plans to grow and enhance our wine, tourism, restaurant, hospitality, and event products, they will never lose sight of their heritage and the fact Sandalford Wines was indeed a pioneer of both the Swan Valley and Margaret River.