Stein's Wines and the Robert Stein Vineyard
trace our family history to the earliest days of Australia's
pioneers. Brought out from Germany by the Macarthur family
(of sheep-breeding fame) in 1838, Johann Stein carried with
him the first cuttings of Rhine Riesling to survive in Australia.
Under his supervision the Camden Park vineyard flourished
as one of the earliest wineries in Australia. Later, his
brother Jacob established his own vineyard called "Sandal
Farm" on Prospect Creek near Carramar, in Sydney's
South-West.
There Jacob raised a large family and entertained visitors
to the winery including explorer Ludwig Leichhardt and Father
of Federation Sir Henry Parkes (later five times New South
Wales Premier). Unfortunately, the world-wide outbreak of
phylloxera disease put an end to the vineyard and ruined
most of Australia's infant wine growing industry.
Over a century later however, tradition was
revived when in 1976 Robert "Bob" Stein, a great-great
grandson, purchased 75 acres at the present location and
embarked on a rigorous planting programme - Shiraz being
the first rootlings planted.
Subsequently, acreages of Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling, Traminer,
Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon and Black Muscat have been
added, bringing diversity and flavour to the original plantings.
Under Bob's watchful gaze, modern equipment
and technology have combines with honourable traditions
to produce a variety of red and white table wines of award
winning quality, not to mention a "speciality of the
house" - our delicious Rum Cask Port.
The Robert Stein Vineyard
prides itself on having a well-equipped laboratory, enabling
testing at all stages of the wine making process - from
the vineyard to the crusher, through fermentation and finally
to filtering and maturation.
A recent aquisition was a German Willmes Press, which has
given our operations an enormously increased capacity to
handle any harvest.
We welcome you to share in our rewards.
