“LEGACY” AND “GENER ATIONS” are words James Lindner
mentions several times while talking about his family’s
winemwinemaking business in South Australia’s Barossa Valley aking business in South Australia’s Barossa Valley
and the Langmand the Langmeil vineyard —eil vineyard — which boasts som which boasts some of the e of the
oldest shiraz vines in the country, if not the world. oldest shiraz vines in the country, if not the world.
JamJames, 48, is sales and mes, 48, is sales and marketing marketing manager at Langmanager at Langmeil eil
WWinery, and his brother Paul, 51, is chief wineminery, and his brother Paul, 51, is chief winemaker of its aker of its
award-winning wines. Sixth-generation Barossa born and award-winning wines. Sixth-generation Barossa born and
bred, they’re now sharing the helmbred, they’re now sharing the helm of Langm of Langmeil Weil Winery inery
with their parents Richard and Shirley Lindner. with their parents Richard and Shirley Lindner.
“I see it as a legacy,” says Jam“I see it as a legacy,” says James. “One of mes. “One of my drives is y drives is
for mfor my generation to solidify the foundations. My generation to solidify the foundations. My brother y brother
is mis making wine that builds the foundation of quality and aking wine that builds the foundation of quality and
excellence so our children can comexcellence so our children can come into a fame into a family business. ily business.
I hope it will continue to prosper for generations to comI hope it will continue to prosper for generations to come.”e.”
LangmLangmeil’s old vineyard and the collection of early eil’s old vineyard and the collection of early
buildings are imbuildings are imbued with history. Silesian imbued with history. Silesian immmigrant and igrant and
religious refugee Christian Auricht settled on the land in religious refugee Christian Auricht settled on the land in
- H1842. He planted the first acre of shiraz vines in 1843, and e planted the first acre of shiraz vines in 1843, and
soon established a smsoon established a smithy, bakery, cobbler and butcher’s ithy, bakery, cobbler and butcher’s
shop, and the well for the village of Langmshop, and the well for the village of Langmeil, too.eil, too.
Fast-forward to 1996, and Richard Lindner decided to buy Fast-forward to 1996, and Richard Lindner decided to buy
the property and its remthe property and its remaining neglected patch of ancient aining neglected patch of ancient
vines, formvines, forming a partnership with his cousin Carl Lindner ing a partnership with his cousin Carl Lindner
and brother-in-law Chris Bitter. Paul camand brother-in-law Chris Bitter. Paul came on board frome on board from the the
start, while Jamstart, while James —es — who was helping his parents resurrect who was helping his parents resurrect
another vineyard at Lyndoch in 1998 —another vineyard at Lyndoch in 1998 — followed a year followed a year
later. “It was amlater. “It was amazing to think this old vineyard at Langmazing to think this old vineyard at Langmeil eil
had such history,” Jamhad such history,” James says. “It was imes says. “It was important to get the portant to get the
vineyard up and running and let people taste that history. vineyard up and running and let people taste that history.
To be able to taste wine fromTo be able to taste wine from the fruit of the vine the very the fruit of the vine the very
first European settlers planted is so amfirst European settlers planted is so amazing.”azing.”
They restored the old buildings and carefully revived the They restored the old buildings and carefully revived the
old vines, calling the patch The Freedomold vines, calling the patch The Freedom 1843 as a tribute 1843 as a tribute
to Auricht’s quest to follow his faith without persecution. to Auricht’s quest to follow his faith without persecution.
ComCommmitted to saving old vines, they also transplanted itted to saving old vines, they also transplanted
320 shiraz vines from320 shiraz vines from a neighbouring property that were a neighbouring property that were
destined to be bulldozed. These vines had been originally destined to be bulldozed. These vines had been originally
planted in about 1860. They call these Orphan Bank. planted in about 1860. They call these Orphan Bank.
Equally imEqually important is their Valley Floor shiraz. “It’s portant is their Valley Floor shiraz. “It’s
sourced fromsourced from m many locals who’ve been growing grapes for any locals who’ve been growing grapes for
generations, so every timgenerations, so every time a bottle of Valley Floor sells it e a bottle of Valley Floor sells it
filters back to the comfilters back to the commmunity, and has a taste of the region unity, and has a taste of the region
as a whole,” Jamas a whole,” James says. “Wes says. “We really look after our growers e really look after our growers
and want our children to buy fromand want our children to buy from their children.” their children.”
Paul, who spends mPaul, who spends most of his timost of his time either in the winery or e either in the winery or
in the vineyard, says there’s a certain destiny about life in in the vineyard, says there’s a certain destiny about life in
the Barossa. “If you’re not working in a winery or a vineyard the Barossa. “If you’re not working in a winery or a vineyard
you’re in hospitality. Wyou’re in hospitality. Wineminemaking is a bit of everything,” he aking is a bit of everything,” he
says. “Msays. “Most years I do a lot of pruning. Wost years I do a lot of pruning. With the old vines, ith the old vines,
you really have the passion, you know the effort that’s been you really have the passion, you know the effort that’s been
put in along the way, so it’s pretty special. Wput in along the way, so it’s pretty special. We’ve slowly but e’ve slowly but
surely restored what we can, and still have msurely restored what we can, and still have more work to do.”ore work to do.”
JamJames travels for around 20 weeks a year, spreading es travels for around 20 weeks a year, spreading
the word about Langmthe word about Langmeil wines. “I don’t have to say meil wines. “I don’t have to say much uch
—— I just let the wine do the talking. That’s m I just let the wine do the talking. That’s my brother’s y brother’s
legacy, and it mlegacy, and it makes makes my job easier. You can open a bottle y job easier. You can open a bottle
and people say, ‘Wand people say, ‘Wow, that’s incredible!’” ow, that’s incredible!’” >>
LangmLangmeil Weil Winery, corner Langminery, corner Langmeil and Para Roads, eil and Para Roads,
Tanunda. (08) 8563 2595; langmTanunda. (08) 8563 2595; langmeilwinery.comeilwinery.com.au.au
OOUURR L I F E I N L I F E I N T THHE CE COOUUNNTTRRYY BABAROROS SA VAS SA VAL L E Y SAL L E Y SA
