Interview with Colin Campbell [transcript] Interviewer: Rob Linn

Colin Campbell was born in Rutherglen on 24 September 1945. His parents were Alan and Isobel Campbell and Colin is a fourth generation winemaker. Vineyards have been at Rutherglen since 1900 with many closing during the Depression in the 1930s. Many returned to mixed farming and grapes. Colin studied oenology at Roseworthy. There were only eight in the course. He talks about the students and teachers, his early days on the property. He introduced refrigeration and the quality of white wine improved. His early work experience was at Seppelts and Lindemans. It was a time of enormous change and expansion. Philip Laffer was at the forefront of technology. The local winemakers meet monthly to share ideas. There was major replanting of vines in the 1960s to include new varieties. Most wine was sold in bulk until bottling began in the 1960s. Rutherglen had its first wine festival in 1967 and this led to cellar door sales and wine tourism. Colin talks about continuing political batles over wine taxes. He talks about the Muscat network and developing a Muscat trail in the area. Most of the Rutherglen operations have stayed family owned

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