Jack Mann (winemaker)
Encyclopedia
Jack Mann MBE was an influential winemaker
in Western Australia
and devised Houghton White Burgundy, a wine that became the flagship of the Western Australian wine industry. He was chief winemaker at Houghton Winery
in the Swan Valley, from 1930 to 1974 and is considered one of the pioneers of the Western Australian wine industry.
. His father George was a well-known brandy
maker from Chateau Tanunda in South Australia
's Barossa Valley
and his mother was a member of the Sobels winemaking family.
won the first of 13 successive Australian Champion awards. In 1932 Mann introduced a butcher's mincing machine which fragmented grape skins, but not the seeds, after the stalks had been separated from the bunches. In 1936 he acquired a Seitz germ proof filter, the first to be imported into Australia, which allowed sterile filtration. The next year Chenin Blanc
won first prize at the Melbourne Wine Show, and Houghton White Burgundy was born. During his career he won many awards for claret
, burgundy
, tawny port, vintage port, liqueur frontignac and liqueur hermitage. He was awarded an MBE
in 1964 for services to the viticulture
industry and the The West Australian
newspaper included him in their list of Western Australia
's 100 most influential people in 2006.
Lamont's winery in the Swan Valley was founded by Jack's daughter and son-in-law Corin and Neil Lamont. His granddaughter Kate Lamont
is a noted cook and businesswoman.
His grandson, Robert Mann, is the Senior Winemaker at Cape Mentelle in the Margaret River
.
His son, Tony Mann
represented Australia in four cricket test matches and was the first Australian to score a test century as a nightwatchman
.
: he took over 2000 wickets in WA grade cricket including 81 in the 1927/28 season.
The Jack Mann Oval in Middle Swan is named for him.
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and devised Houghton White Burgundy, a wine that became the flagship of the Western Australian wine industry. He was chief winemaker at Houghton Winery
Houghton Winery
Houghton Winery is one of the earliest established vineyards and wineries in Western Australia. It is situated on Great Northern Highway in the Swan Valley near Upper Swan....
in the Swan Valley, from 1930 to 1974 and is considered one of the pioneers of the Western Australian wine industry.
Early life
Mann was born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. His father George was a well-known brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
maker from Chateau Tanunda in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
's Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
and his mother was a member of the Sobels winemaking family.
Career
Mann started work at Houghton's with his father George in 1922. He succeeded his father as chief winemaker eight years later. In the 1930s his olorosoOloroso
Oloroso is a variety of sherry produced by oxidative aging. It is normally darker than amontillado and has a higher glycerine content, which makes it smoother and less dry. Oloroso is usually dark and nutty....
won the first of 13 successive Australian Champion awards. In 1932 Mann introduced a butcher's mincing machine which fragmented grape skins, but not the seeds, after the stalks had been separated from the bunches. In 1936 he acquired a Seitz germ proof filter, the first to be imported into Australia, which allowed sterile filtration. The next year Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Chenin blanc , is a white wine grape variety from the Loire valley of France. Its high acidity means it can be used to make everything from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines, although it can produce very bland, neutral wines if the vine's natural vigor is not controlled...
won first prize at the Melbourne Wine Show, and Houghton White Burgundy was born. During his career he won many awards for claret
Claret
Claret is a name primarily used in British English for red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.-Usage:Claret derives from the French clairet, a now uncommon dark rosé and the most common wine exported from Bordeaux until the 18th century...
, burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
, tawny port, vintage port, liqueur frontignac and liqueur hermitage. He was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1964 for services to the viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
industry and the The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
newspaper included him in their list of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
's 100 most influential people in 2006.
Family
In 1938 Mann married Angela Doolette.Lamont's winery in the Swan Valley was founded by Jack's daughter and son-in-law Corin and Neil Lamont. His granddaughter Kate Lamont
Kate Lamont
Kate Lamont is a cook and author.Lamont has hospitality interest in the Swan Valley, Margaret River and a bottle shop and bar in Cottesloe, Western Australia.-Government Committees:...
is a noted cook and businesswoman.
His grandson, Robert Mann, is the Senior Winemaker at Cape Mentelle in the Margaret River
Margaret River
Margaret River is a river in southwest Western Australia. Although small and unremarkable, it is the eponym of the iconic town and tourist region of Margaret River, famous for its surfing, caves and wine....
.
His son, Tony Mann
Tony Mann (cricketer)
Anthony Longford Mann is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests from 1977 to 1978....
represented Australia in four cricket test matches and was the first Australian to score a test century as a nightwatchman
Nightwatchman (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a nightwatchman is a lower-order batsman who comes in to bat higher up the order than usual near the end of the day's play...
.
Sport
Jack Mann was a noted cricketer and successful underarm bowlerUnderarm bowling
In cricket, underarm bowling is as old as the sport itself. Until the introduction of the roundarm style in the first half of the 19th century, bowling was performed in the same way as in bowls, the ball being delivered with the hand below the waist...
: he took over 2000 wickets in WA grade cricket including 81 in the 1927/28 season.
The Jack Mann Oval in Middle Swan is named for him.