A little bit about us....

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David and Pat

The Old Orchard Winery
A Short History...

The Knox Community Gardens and Vineyard is sited on just under 20 acres of Crown Land situated between Wadhurst Road and Scoresby Road, just north of Burwood Highway in Knoxfield.

The 5-acre vineyard was first planted in 1981 as a "work for the dole" scheme sponsored by Knox City Council with vines donated by Knox's sister city in South Australia call Norlunga. The vines are all South Australian, McLaren Vale Vines. Currently there are 5 varieties of 25 year-old vines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc.

Knox City Council managed the vineyard until 1995 when it was taken over by the Swinburn TAFE's Lilydale Campus as an extension to their viticulture training activities. Swinburn vacated the vineyard in 2004 and Knox City Council offered it, by public Expression of Interest, in October 2005.

Pat and David Smith asked Mark Jordan to join the team and took up the responsibilities for the vineyard's management on the 15th December 2005.

The team set about re-building the vineyard and created a Cellar Door by renovating one of the working sheds. The Cellar Door opened on the 26th January 2006 and has continued to build a client base of locals who enjoy fine wines. Many of the locals can walk to the vineyard's cellar door, as there are three entrances. 51 Kleinert Road, 254 Scoresby Road and via a gate on the Knox Walking Track.

The team has carried out considerable works on the vineyard and has created an environment which most visitors find extraordinary. The vineyard has steadily developed into a winery with it's first harvest happening in January 2007.

The name "The Old Orchard Winery" came about as the land was originally a large orchard.
a few years ago the council took the land back in their hands leaving David and Pat with their love for wine hanging in the balance.  They have since moved the business to the picturesque Victorian country town of Yea.  Here they have created a shop full of atmosphere, still with the same passion as previously found in Boronia.  They have also now introduced an amazing range of Cider and Ginger Beer - which is proving very popular!

Pat and David host numerous functions and events at The Old Orchard Winery utilising it's facilities at 94 High Street, Yea together with it's sister vineyard - The Yea Winery, Cidery & Brewery.  They still offer all local customers to the Knox area FREE delivery should they wish to place an order.