O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards is set to launch its first Verdelho, appropriately bottled in honour of Vince O’Reilly, a man who made warm hospitality his life’s calling for more than 40 years, until his death in 1999.

The Vince Reserve Verdelho is O’Reilly’s first foray into a popular variety that is fast becoming synonymous with the Queensland wine industry and is bottled from grapes grown in the same South Burnett vineyard from which the boutique winery sourced grapes for its first vintage.

As Canungra Valley Vineyards expands its range, Vince O’Reilly was an obvious choice to be honoured with a bottle in his own name, after sharing naming right honours on the vineyard’s Muscat with brother Peter, with whom he ran the O’Reilly’s guesthouse for four decades from the 1950’s.

Born in Maleny and originally working in western Queensland, Vince O’Reilly was a practical man who balanced running the guesthouse with his brother and raising 10 children with his wife Lona, before passing away aged 68.

“Over 45 years Vince made an outstanding contribution toward the O’Reilly story, the business and to expanding the concepts of ecotourism. He is remembered as a true pioneer of nature based tourism in Australia, as well as a loving husband, father and loyal friend to many.”

Joining Vince O’Reilly to be honoured in the new releases is Vince’s father and pioneering O’Reilly Mick, whose moniker will now grace the Muscat.

An original O’Reilly boy, Mick left the mountain to run his own dairy before returning to the O’Reilly’s family business in times of financial trouble in the mid 1940’s. His decision to privatise what was then a public company and convince sons Vince and Pete (Big Pete) to come into the business as the second generation of management, set the guesthouse onto a path of success over the following decades. He and his wife Annie ran the Gran O’Reilly’s General Store until the early 1980’s.

The Verdelho will be launched to members on June 16, alongside the 2007 Semillon, produced from a record 7.2 tonne harvest of the white variety at the vineyard in February and bottled under the Platypus Play label.

With O’Reilly’s now leasing the Murgon vineyard, they hope to harvest around 2 tonnes of Verdelho from their own vines at Canungra next year, with an expected to yield around 4 tonnes in 2009 and full production at up to 5 tonnes.

O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards introduced Verdelho grapes to its boutique vineyard last spring, complementing its signature Chambourcin and its successful Semillon varieties that it began harvesting 6 years ago.

Wine Operations Manager Mark Thurbon says the move into Verdelho was a logical one.

“Verdelho grows exceptionally well in Queensland’s sub-tropical climate and this year with a long dry growing period, conditions have been great at Canungra,” Mr Thurbon said.

“Our first Verdelho promises passionfruit and mango aromas, medium body and a zesty citrus finish and it is great for drinking now or will develop its smooth tropical flavour over the next 3-5 years.”

The new wines will be available at the cellar door and by ordering on-line after their launch to Platinum Club members this weekend.

If the chill in the air means a red is preferred then O’Reilly’s has some superb and robust reds, including its signature Shane Shiraz.

Matching the menu to the wines perfectly, the vineyard’s Vintage restaurant’s enticing winter selection features such mouth waterers as an entrée of smoked salmon and goat cheese en croute served warmed with petit garden salad.

Mains include slow cooked duck legs with braised fennel and red cabbage on chat potatoes served with orange sauce and herb scented rack of lamb on split pea fondue, honey glazed parsnip and carrot with rhubarb salsa.

A sunny spot on the verandah is the ideal place to wine and dine, or a picnic by the creek in the sunshine makes a relaxing casual option.

Open daily from 10am-4.30pm, the vineyard is a member of the Gold Coast Hinterland Wine Country group of seven wineries that form a wonderful trail for visitors interested in exploring the culinary delights of the region. Find out more at www.goldcoastwinecountry.com.au.


ENDS.

Further information on the O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards.

MEDIA:
For further information on this press release, please contact:
Amanda Tidmarsh
Phone: 07 5502 4900
Fax: 07 5502 0988
E-mail: amanda@oreillys.com.au
Or
Kathy Bourke
Phone: 07 5539 9883
Mobile: 0419 757 622
E-mail: kathy@articulatecommunications.com.au