Congratulations to Max Fairbrass who has been awarded the Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association Life Member Award at this year's Annual General Meeting. Please read Max's story below, with special thanks to Bev Prideaux for collating his historical impact on the Blackwood Valley wine region.William Fairbrass moved to an 800-hectare property in Kulikup, 300 metres above sea level, now fittingly known as Blackwood Crest, in 1906. He was working on the establishment of the Katanning-Donnybrook railway line to earn vital income necessary to develop the land. In 1908 he planted a grapevine (table grapes) that was carefully tended on the long voyage from Kent in the south of England all the way to Western Australia. Some of the other early settlers also planted grapevine cuttings, and many still survive, despite the odd white ant attack.
In 1906, the Fairbrass family established an 800-hectare property in Kulikup, east of Boyup Brook, with table grape vines planted two years later. Almost 70 years later, descendent, Max Fairbrass, took a sample of the table grapes from the Fairbrass property to the Department of Agriculture and was impressed with the sugar-acid balance. It was in 1976 that Max was finally seduced by the call of the vine. In a bold move he, and wife Roz, planted a two hectare vineyard, named ‘Blackwood Crest’, being the first commercial plantings in the Blackwood Valley.
In 1982, Blackwood Crest had its first vintage. The vineyard consisted of riesling, semillon and sauvignon blanc, cabernet and shiraz. In 1994, a further 2.5 hectares were planted, increasing the area to more than 7 hectares, with a 50-tonne production expected at capacity.
Max has a natural affinity for the land and vineyard, resulting in vines that have been allowed to mature slowly with minimum interference or chemical.
In 1985, Blackwood Crest won the Best Western Australian Port at the Perth Royal Show, and has since won numerous medals and trophies over the years, including the 1990 Shiraz being judged in the top 80 Shiraz wines in Australia.
Max has believed for nearly fifty years that the Blackwood Valley ha
d the potential to produce premium fruit and premium wines. He holds the belief that the soil, climate and environment is as good as you could get. After so many years of doing it alone, Max finds great satisfaction in seeing others now making the same discovery. His vision has led many others following his path in planting grapes and making wine in the Blackwood Valley region.
The inaugural meeting to form the Blackwood Valley Wine Association was held in September 1996, with Max part of the first committee.
Other contributions Max has made to the WA wine industry include being the Blackwood committee member and representative delegate for the WA Wine Association in 1997 and he has been a volunteer and an Associate Judge at the Blackwood Valley Wine Show.
Sources:
Bev Prideaux,
Blackwood Valley Wine Assoc.
