Located in the idyllic Canowindra region, the Windowrie vineyard was established in 1987 by the O’Dea family with an initial planting of 60 acres.
David and Wizz O'Dea are the founders of Windowrie Estate. David O'Dea completed a degree in Agriculture at Hawkesbury University in 1961. Wizz O'Dea began her life on a farm situated near the Hunter Valley and married David in 1964. Windowrie was purchased in 1959 and David and Wizz worked together in the production of various cereal crops.
The decision to diversify into grape growing in the 1980's dramatically changed the family's fortunes. From humble beginnings, Windowrie Estate now boasts the region's first winery and employs up to 45 people in casual labour and 14 people in full time labour.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Windowrie have been growing and making wine from the vineyards since the early 1990’s. Over the years Windowrie have carefully nurtured the vines with the belief that great wines start in the vineyard. After 30 years of making wine from these vineyards the family have an in depth understanding of the quality of fruit that can be produced from each specific vineyard.
With many of the vines now passing 30 years of age the low yielding vines are now producing fruit of high intensity with great colour and balance. An important aspect of Windowries development has been the investment in research and development during this period both in the winery and the vineyard.
An interest in developing the region has seen the family plant varieties including Sangiovese,Petit Verdot and Tempranillo. The winery employs traditional techniques such as basket pressing and hand plunging with new world winemaking technical advancements.
Food friendly wines are well balanced with interest, wines that pair well with food and importantly also strike a conversation.
WINERY
Located immediately above The Crest Vineyard, the Windowrie Winery sits on our 51.66 hectare property. The modern winery has a processing capacity of 6,000 tonnes and a storage capacity of 1.2 million litres. It was constructed in 1998 and has been kept updated with efficient equipment.
The winery was developed in a modular scheme. The winery combines modern efficiency with traditional techniques to ensure wine can be produced for several price points. Winery capacity allows super premium parcels of 1,000 litres up to in excess of 250,000 litres.
The winery produces all of the Windowrie products as well as processing and making wine under contract for outside customers.
