Vasse Felix
Encyclopedia
Vasse Felix was the first vineyard and winery established in the Margaret River Wine Region. Established in Cowaramup in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, Vasse Felix is recognised as a pioneer of the Region.
, Chardonnay
and Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
blends.
's Heytesbury Pty Ltd
in 1987. Following Robert Holmes a Court's death in 1990, direction and management of Vasse Felix passed to his widow, Janet Holmes a Court
. In 2008, their youngest son, Paul Holmes a Court, bought his family out of Heytesbury Pty Ltd
and became sole owner of Vasse Felix.
Dr. Tom Cullity planted the first Margaret River
vines on the eight acres of land that he had bought for $75 an acre on Harman’s Road south, in 1967. (In 2011 this road was renamed 'Tom Cullity Drive'). Dr Cullity named his property “Vasse Felix”, a name the much-extended vineyard still bears today. The area known as Vasse was named after a French sailor named Thomas Timothee Vasse
who was lost overboard off the coast in the area from the “Naturaliste” in 1801. And “Felix” is Latin for “happy”, or "fortunate".
Wines
Vasse Felix produces a wide variety of wines, but is best known for its Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
and Semillon
Sémillon
Sémillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, most notably in France and Australia.-History:The origin of the Sémillon grape is hard to determine. It is known that it first arrived in Australia in the early 19th century and by the 1820s the grape covered over 90 percent...
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
blends.
Ownership
Dr Cullity sold Vasse Felix in 1984 to its then winemaker, David Gregg, who in turn sold it to Robert Holmes a CourtRobert Holmes à Court
Michael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court was an entrepreneur who became Australia's first businessman worth over a billion dollars before dying suddenly of a heart attack in 1990.Holmes à Court was one of the world's most feared corporate raiders through the 1980s, having built his empire...
's Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty. Ltd. is the privately owned company of the Holmes à Court family in Western Australia.Originally called Heytesbury Holdings, the company was formed by Robert Holmes à Court in the 1970s as the holding company of his rapidly expanding financial empire...
in 1987. Following Robert Holmes a Court's death in 1990, direction and management of Vasse Felix passed to his widow, Janet Holmes a Court
Janet Holmes à Court
Janet Holmes à Court, AC, HFAIB is an Australian businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990...
. In 2008, their youngest son, Paul Holmes a Court, bought his family out of Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Pty. Ltd. is the privately owned company of the Holmes à Court family in Western Australia.Originally called Heytesbury Holdings, the company was formed by Robert Holmes à Court in the 1970s as the holding company of his rapidly expanding financial empire...
and became sole owner of Vasse Felix.
History
CardiologistCardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
Dr. Tom Cullity planted the first Margaret River
Margaret River, Western Australia
Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....
vines on the eight acres of land that he had bought for $75 an acre on Harman’s Road south, in 1967. (In 2011 this road was renamed 'Tom Cullity Drive'). Dr Cullity named his property “Vasse Felix”, a name the much-extended vineyard still bears today. The area known as Vasse was named after a French sailor named Thomas Timothee Vasse
Thomas Vasse
Thomas Timothée Vasse was a French sailor who was lost in the surf on the south west coast of Australia in 1801, and presumed drowned...
who was lost overboard off the coast in the area from the “Naturaliste” in 1801. And “Felix” is Latin for “happy”, or "fortunate".
See also
- West Australian wineWest Australian wineAustralia’s biggest State extends the western third of the continent, although the winemaking regions are almost entirely situated in the cooler climate south-western tip of the State...
- Margaret River (wine region)Margaret River (wine region)Margaret River is the foremost Geographical Indication wine region in the South West Australia Zone, with nearly 5,500 hectares under vine and over 138 wineries as at 2008. Margaret River wine region is made up predominately of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the...
- Margaret River, Western AustraliaMargaret River, Western AustraliaMargaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....
- Heytesbury Pty LtdHeytesbury Pty LtdHeytesbury Pty. Ltd. is the privately owned company of the Holmes à Court family in Western Australia.Originally called Heytesbury Holdings, the company was formed by Robert Holmes à Court in the 1970s as the holding company of his rapidly expanding financial empire...
- Robert Holmes à CourtRobert Holmes à CourtMichael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court was an entrepreneur who became Australia's first businessman worth over a billion dollars before dying suddenly of a heart attack in 1990.Holmes à Court was one of the world's most feared corporate raiders through the 1980s, having built his empire...
- Janet Holmes à CourtJanet Holmes à CourtJanet Holmes à Court, AC, HFAIB is an Australian businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990...