About The Silkwood Wines Vineyard
After an extensive search of the various wine regions of Western Australia, Pemberton was selected as the most suitable to establish the vineyard for Silkwood Wines.
Our selection process was based on finding both an ideal climate and soil to produce quality wines. As early as 1967, renowned authority on the wine industry, Professor Gladstone, recommended Pemberton as Western Australia’s most suitable wine region. However it was not until 1982 that the first vineyard appeared.
In 1998 we selected the current property. The prevailing temperate climate, gently undulating landscape and the rich gravelly loam soils that overlay the clay base, all featured strongly in our selection, and were possibly the factors that influenced Professor Gladstone’s recommendations.
The vineyard is set amongst magnificent and picturesque Karri and Jarrah forests for which Pemberton is famous.
The Plantings
In 1999 the first vines were planted after a year of soil preparation and building the necessary vineyard infrastructure. Three hectares of Shiraz and two hectares of Sauvignon Blanc were planted.
In 2000 a further five and a half hectares of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were planted.
Grafted rootstocks were selected for plantings to ensure protection against fungal diseases such as phylloxera, which can destroy entire vineyards. Grafted rootstock also reduces excessive vigour in the vines, which focuses the plants energy to producing grapes.
From this sound base the Silkwood vineyard has, and will continue to produce a comprehensive range of boutique wines.