Interview with Bruce Redman [sound recording] Interviewer: Rob Linn, Part 1 of 3
Bruce Redman was born in Penola in 1954. His father was Owen and mother Edna. His grandfather went to Coonawarra in 1901 and worked at Wynns as head cellarman, bought his own 40 acre block in 1908 and started winemaking in 1909. His father had a soldier settler block in Coonawarra. He talks about the family properties - mainly sheep grazing with a small amount of grapes and a small winery; most of the wine was sold in bulk. Their winery was Rouge Homme which his father sold when Bruce was 12. Father bought Arthur Hoffman's vineyard and made wine for the Redman label. First wine was produced in 1968 when the new winery was built. Bruce went to school in Adelaide and to Roseworthy 1972-1975 to study wine making. Pam Dunsford was the first woman to do the course in 1973. Principal was Herriot and it was very strictly run. All students had to board. Management went from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. It had a working winery where they had their lectures, Bob Baker ran the course. Dave Bruer taught chemistry. His first job was at Chateau Reynella for three years as an assistant winemaker. His first job was to blend 500,000 litres of sherry. He went to Coonawarra in 1976 to buy grapes for Reynella and it had grown a lot especially with red wines. He went to Krondorf in 1979 and worked with Burge and Wilson for a year and then went overseas. He did a vintage in Bordeaux for Chateau Beau Site - very basic machinery and conditions; always had wine with their food; French did not think much of Australian wine. Then worked in the Aspen ski fields and returned home to Coonawarra in 1981. There had been a big growth in red wine. He went into business with his brother Malcolm and produced 15-20,000 cases. Started to export to the UK but concentrated on the domestic market and making consistently good wine. Parents spent many years building the profile of Redman wines. He is President of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association; its a very close and strong community
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