Winemaker - Ross Lougoon

From working as a shearer in outback Queensland to becoming the Chief Winemaker at one of Bendigo's leading wineries is proof that dream can still be achieved.

Ross and his wife purchased the property at Leichardt just NW of Bendigo in 1985. The property had a small but over-run vineyard which had been planted in the late 60s. Knowing nothing about grapevines and very little about wine Ross set about resurrecting the overgrown vineyard.

Unfortunately skyrocketing interest rates forced Ross to seek off farm income to support the farm and he went north, shearing with a team in outback Queensland. Returning after three months he continued to shear locally while working in the vineyard to harvest their first crop of fruit which was sold to Graham Leith at Passing Clouds.

Ross's life was interrupted in 1988, when at the age of 30 he suffered a heart attack. During his recovery Ross spent many hours in his vineyard using all of his farming skills to return the vineyard to its former glory.

Unfortunately farming was still not a viable proposition and he was forced to return to shearing. Surviving a second heart attack in 1993 forced Ross to reassess his lifestyle, and while a number of wineries were eager to purchase the fruit he was producing he made the decision to diversily, and with the guidance of some local winemakers Ross produced his first vintage of Connor Park Shiraz.

The vineyard was extended to include more Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet vines. Ross's belief was that if you could produce premium fruit you could make premium wine. He drew on all of his experience and spent countless hours in the vineyard nurturing his fruit. The wines were, and still are handcrafted, with each step in the winemaking process being carefully managed by the winemaker.

Today after major heart surgery Ross still shears the occasional sheep and sows the annual wheat crop but spends most of his time in the small shed beside the sheep yards which serves as the winery.

Ross has developed his own distinctive style of winemaking, concentrating on the quality of his fruit and minimal intervention to produce wines that are now winning gold medals at major wine shows and are quickly becoming a sought after commodity.

Connor Park, Connor Road, Leichardt, Victoria Australia 3516
Tel: +613 5437 5234 Fax: +613 5437 5204 Email: connor@netcon.net.au
website by Peter Wiseman