The same year man landed on the moon vignerons Rick and Jenny Turner began their Mudgee journey, hand-planting vines on advice from family friend and Huntington Estate founder Bob Roberts. Today their journey takes a new direction.
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After 43 years in the wine industry, iconic Mudgee label Frog Rock Wines has announced it will be closing its doors before the end of 2012.
A culmination of Rick and Jenny retiring, their family moving in different directions and an increasing competition in wine globally has led to Frog Rock Wines calling its last drinks.
Marketing director and family member Fi Turner said after 40 years in the industry the family was “very content and proud of our achievements to date”.
“We wanted to let you know our story because you must not miss out on getting your last piece of our iconic Mudgee brand before it is too late and of course want a chance to say farewell to you at our last Easter weekend,” she said.
In 2010 Tinobah Pty Ltd (trading as Frog Rock Wines) removed 22 hectares of grapes as a nation-wide initiative to help a worldwide glut. The company looked at intense alternate farming methods and planted hectares of lettuce as a possible new venture.
These were simply the things our family enjoy and wished to share with our friends and customers over the years,” she said.
That year was also Frog Rock Wines’ last full vintage.
Plans for the top vineyard (along Ulan Road) are still being decided. The homestead will remain and some of the rural property has been subdivided and will be sold.
Frog Rock Wines first leapt into the Mudgee wine scene in 1998 with the launch of their first vintage - a 1997 Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet.
At the time of launch they were already well-known by large Hunter Valley producers for premium fruit and were taking a huge step to sell under their own label.
Frog Rock Wines’ 1998 Shiraz was branded the Best Value Shiraz in the World Challenge by Wine Spectator in the over $20 category in 1999 through wine critic Robert Parker. Trophies at home and abroad continued whilst they exported.
Fi said among the company’s favourite drops were the 2003 Rick’s Merlot featured in Winestate Magazine and the 2007 Petit Verdot winning Best Red of an unknown variety at Mudgee Wine Show.
Fi said helicopter joy rides became a customer favourite along with enjoying long picnics and music on a lazy afternoon.
“[These were] simply the things our family enjoy and wished to share with our friends and customers over the years,” she said.
“In 1999 our larger plantings were introduced to include other varietals like merlot, chambourcin and petit verdot.”
In 2005 Frog Rock Wines finished renovations on its cellar door setting the scene for their well known Flix in the Stix.