The proud home of two indigenous Australian grapes - white cabernet sauvignon Shalistin and bronze cabernet sauvignon Malian
About Us
Cleggett Wines is a partnership between Malcolm (Mac) Cleggett and Anne McLennan. While Mac has an agriculture background Anne gained experience in small business and government enterprises before establishing Cleggett Wines in 2000.
We are passionate about Shalistin the White Cabernet Sauvignon and Malian the Bronze Cabernet Sauvignon and are proud to offer a point of difference with our wines. We share a commitment to continually and consistently strive for excellence from the vineyard through to each bottle of wine. Feedback about our wines is one of the most important aspects of our business and we say thank you to our many loyal customers who inspire us to develop our new wine styles.
The photo shows Mac checking the Shalistin grapes just prior to picking in March 2006.
At a time when Australian wines are growing in popularity all around the world, we are working to establish a niche for our exciting new style wines. It's a bold move but an exciting and challenging journey for us.
Mac's family first planted grape vines at Langhorne Creek in 1911 (possibly earlier) and family succession in viticulture is assured for at least two more generations. The family vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling in addition to 2 hectares each of Shalistin and Malian vines.
Nature provided an opportunity when in 1977 during hand picking Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, a sport (cane) of one vine was found bearing ‘bronze’ coloured fruit. Cuttings were taken from this branch and propagated. Over several years plantings increased and they continued to bear the bronze fruit. In 1991 a sport on one of the ‘bronze’ vines produced golden white cabernet sauvignon bunches (see picture). Following many years of development and additional plantings, two new grape varietals, both with the same DNA make up as the parent Cabernet vine, are now producing excellent fruit.
Mac persevered with these two because they were sports (or natural mutations) of Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety he had much knowledge of and one that is well suited to the Langhorne Creek wine region. Almost 30 years later this belief in Cabernet Sauvignon is rewarded with both Shalistin and Malian proving to be viticulturally well suited to the region. Unlike most other white varieties and some reds, Shalistin and Malian have thicker skins (like Cabernet Sauvignon), resulting in slightly lower extraction rates but exhibiting good resistance to disease and weather variations. Mac believes these viticultural aspects may be just as important to the further development of the varieties as the winemaking itself.
You may like to read the transcript of the ABC TV Landline program which featured the story of our new grape varieties - http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1933677.htm
In 2001 Mac was awarded the Legend of Langhorne Creek Award for his services to viticulture and the local wine industry. Our popular Legend Series Cabernet Sauvignon is produced each year in honor of that award .
It is now possible for other adventurous grape growers to trial Shalistin and Malian under a special licencing agreement with Mac Cleggett. Email info@cleggettwines.com.au for further information.