Celebrating 25 Years of Liebichwein
The Liebich family have been passionate about wine in the Barossa Valley for almost 100 years. This is a brief look at what was happening around Australia and the Barossa region when Ron and Janet first established the Liebichwein label 25 years ago. Ron is the third generation winemaker to be based in Rowland Flat, South Australia and he’s preparing for his 49th Barossa vintage at age 71.
1992
What happened in Australia in 1992?
- Artists in the Top 10 Australian music charts included Billy Ray Cyrus, Guns ?n Roses and Whitney Houston
- Average petrol price was 68 c/L
- The cost of a postage stamp was increased from 43 cents to 45 cents
- The Australian 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation
- The Prime minister was Paul Keating
- The first WOMADelaide music festival?was held at Botanic Park as part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
- The Cricket World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand where Pakistan?defeated England?in the final at the MCG by 22 runs
- The AFL grand final was won by West Coast Eagles, the first non-Victorian team to win
- There were about 700 wineries in Australia, now there are well over 2500 (over 150 in the Barossa region)
What happened in Barossa Valley in 1992?
- The estimated population of the Barossa Valley council area was 18,000 (now 24,500)
- A mixed vintage for wine quality since the warmer regions like the Barossa didn?t receive the heat normally required to deliver the typically concentrated and rich reds wines.
- The?Barossa Valley railway line?past Penrice junction was officially declared closed, 18 year later the track between Angaston and Nuriootpa was lifted and a shared path for bikes and pedestrians was put in place
- The winery shed was built in Rowland Flat where Liebichwein cellar door still is today
- Liebichwein Cellar Door opened in December 1992 operating on weekends only
- Steingarten Road in Rowland Flat was known as Narrow Road
- Ron was reigning grape treading champion of the Barossa Vintage Festival
- The first range of Liebich table wines: 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1993 Shiraz, 1992 Riesling of the Valleys (Barossa fruit grown by Ron blended with some Clare Valley Riesling grapes)
- The first Liebich fortified wines: Classic Old Barossa Tawny, Benno Port, Ron’s Blend, Keg Blend
- Tending the fruit for Ron’s first Riesling Traminer blend dedicated to his dear mother Lorna as it was her favourite style to drink (trophy winner in 1993 for best sweet white at the Barossa Wine Show)
- Ron started planting Merlot, Grenache and Semillon vineyards to complement the older Shiraz and Cabernet in the?40 acre block inherited from older generations