2022 Soldiers’ Land 'Orchardist' Shiraz
100 Years of Family & Cultivation
On returning home from both World Wars, soldiers were offered small plots of land to farm by the Australian government. Known as the Soldiers Settlement Scheme, this was the chance to make a new start and leave the turmoil of battle in the past.
This wine has two purposes. The first is to acknowledge & hopefully preserve the remaining old vineyards located in the Riverland (planted by returning soldiers but unfortunately many have been removed for economic reasons). The second purpose is to provide ongoing funding to the Returned & Services League (RSL). Today marks the birth of a partnership between Ricca Terra & RSL.
Your purchase of this wine will help both causes.
The Story
On returning home for both World Wars, soldiers were offered small plots of land to farm by the Australian government. Known as the Soldier Settlement Scheme, this was a chance to make a new start and leave the turmoil of battle in the past.
Today, many of the original Soldier Settlement vineyards have been removed and replanted, as have the memories and stories that made these vineyards so special.
The SOLDIERS' LAND ORCHARDIST SHIRAZ pays respect to returned Soldier, Lance Corporal Berthold Oscar Wilksch of 2nd 148th infantry battalion, whose occupation on his military records was listed as 'orchardist'. Today, the vineyard that berthold planted is owned by the Zadow family, who have been farming in the Blanchetown region since 1891.
Notes
Technical
