Who was AustraliaÂ’s First Wine Connoisseur?

[KMP]

On recent visit to Virginia I had the opportunity to visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the US. Among his many interests and achievements was a great love of wine; Jefferson considered wine a "necessary of life". Jefferson is also considered America's first wine connoisseur according to James GablerÂ’s book. Although this may in part be due to the extraordinary amount of material available about Jefferson; he is said to have written 20,000 letters and to have kept detailed notes and lists on his daily life. Jefferson tried to make wine from his vineyards at Monticello but never really succeeded. However he was confident that wine could be made in Virginia and encouraged several different attempts using the native and introduced varieties. The current 80 plus wineries attest to that confidence.

Having just finished Nicholas FaithÂ’s AustraliaÂ’s Liquid Gold, IÂ’ve begun to wonder who might be considered AustraliaÂ’s first wine connoisseur. James Busby brought many of the varieties into Oz, and is considered the father of the Australian wine industry but was he a connoisseur?

Anyone have any suggestions for the first wine connoisseur?

Mike

[KMP]

A little research on James Busby shows that he was not only interested in vines and wine but also co-wrote the NZ Treaty of Waitangi! Certainly makes him a contemporary of Jefferson, who is mostly known for writing the first draft of the American Declaration of Independence.

Mike

[DJ]

Probably someone like John Macarthur - certainly had a cellar - but I don't know if he purchased much - I think it was Hugh Johnson's TV show where one was openned

[markg]

Mike,

Sounds like you like to read. Me too - It sounds like "AustraliaÂ’s Liquid Gold" might be a good book to read, however, I think "A concise history of Australian Wine" by John Beeston would have to be my favourite wine history book. Have you read it ?

[markg]

Probably someone like John Macarthur - certainly had a cellar - but I don't know if he purchased much - I think it was Hugh Johnson's TV show where one was openned

Can you elaborate on that ?

[Murray]

Rod Phillips' Book "A Short History of Wine" notes

In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governer of the British Colony of New South Wales wrote to his superiors in London "In a climate so favourable the cultivation of the vine may doubtless be carried to any degree of perfection, and should no other articles of commerce divert the attention of settlers from this part, the wines of New South Wales mayt perhaps here after be sought with with civility and become an indespensible part of the luxury of European tables"

Vines were included among the plants aboard the ships of the First Fleet in 1788, and were within days planted in what is now downtown Sydney. This proved to humid, and was subsequently planted further west.

In 1790 there were 2,000 vines and a modest harvest.

Peter Schaffer is noted as producing prbably the first wine in Australia in 1795.

So in terms of Wine Connoisseur I'd give it to Arthur Phillip.

[KMP]

Mike,

Sounds like you like to read. Me too - It sounds like "AustraliaÂ’s Liquid Gold" might be a good book to read, however, I think "A concise history of Australian Wine" by John Beeston would have to be my favourite wine history book. Have you read it ?

Yes, Mark. I like to read. There are about 8 books on my bedside table that need to be finished. Beetson's book is part of my library. I read it a few years ago so the details are a bit fuzzy. But Liquid Gold is an excellent book that contains a lot of useful information. Its biggest problem is a lack of maps to show the areas and wineries being discussed. Faith does give his opinion on many aspects of wine in Australia and I'm sure others would debate many points but the early history material is quite interesting.

Mike