Home of St Hugo officially opens its doors
St Hugo opens its doors
PHOTOS Dragan Radocaj and Alicia Lüdi-Schutz WORDS Alicia Lüdi-Schutz LAYOUT DESIGN Jessica Waldhuter
September 23 has been recorded in history as the day St Hugo wines officially opened the doors of its new brand home in the Barossa. Five years in the making, with construction spanning the last 18 months, the home of St Hugo marks a new milestone for the highly esteemed wine brand which started in 1983 following the first release of St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon, now recognised as the leading premium Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia. The Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, Premier of South Australia, declared St Hugo open to the 50
guests who attended the ceremony at the historic site at 2141 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat. “I am extremely proud to open this stunning St Hugo brand home today,” said Mr Weatherill. “The success of this home of St Hugo in attracting new high end food and wine tourists will benefit South Australia not only through the boost to the local economy, but also by further enhancing our global reputation as a food and wine destination.” To commemorate the historic occasion, Mr Colin Gramp, Hugo Gramp’s son, who planted the 40 cork trees along the driveway, threw the last sod of soil onto a new cork sapling located on the turning circle at the end of the driveway.
The 94 year old Barossa identity also sealed a time capsule containing a jeroboam bottle of 1991 St. Hugo with “milestone slips” written by 200 people. Pernod Ricard Winemakers’ Global Wine Public Relations Manager, Ms Ruth Harris, said everyone had written about something special in their own lives. “In this way, all these people’s personal milestones will become part of the incredible milestone for St Hugo - the opening of the brand home,” she said. “About 120 guests wrote their milestone slips on September 19 in 2013 at a dinner that was held to celebrate the 30th vintage of St Hugo,
and at which we announced our intention to build a home for the brand. “At that dinner, it was promised that their milestones would be buried into the foundations of the new brand home so their milestone would be forever linked to St Hugo’s.” All who attended the opening event lunch added their milestone slips to the bottle before the time capsule was closed. The time capsule will be opened on September 19, 2045 to celebrate Hugo Gramp’s 150th birthday and also contains two bottles of 2013 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon, photographs of the new building, articles and a video of the construction of the new building.
Where history meets innovation
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A majestic cork oak tree avenue beckons visitors to experience the new home of St Hugo, where history and innovation align to epitomise all that is Barossa. Marking a new milestone for the St Hugo brand, the beautifully restored building which houses an outstanding collection of premium red wines, overlooks rolling vineyards and the famous Jacob’s Creek that meanders its way through the bottom of the vineyard estate. Private dinners in the Hugo Gramp Room, tailor made corporate events in The Courtyard and customised wine tastings in The Private Tasting Area are among the luxuries awaiting the connoisseur. A sense of sophistication and refinement is immediately evident as guests discover not only the St Hugo wine and food experiences, but also the story which began with the vision
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of one man and his lifelong connection to the region. Mr. Louis “Hugo” Gramp, at the age of 25, succeeded his father and grandfather as head of Gramp & Sons winery. His visionary leadership and unwavering pursuit of quality set the company on a path of extraordinary growth. Many of the cellars and buildings at the Rowland Flat winery were established during Hugo’s management. Sadly, at the age of 43, Hugo lost his life in the 1938 Kyeema Air disaster. To honour the memory of a talent taken too soon, in 1983 the iconic St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon was launched and since then, the wine has established a reputation for excellence. Hugo’s winemaking principles have endured, inspiring successive generations of Gramp & Sons’ winemakers to create internationally acclaimed, award-winning fine wines from Australia’s premier wine regions, including the Barossa.
The cork oak trees planted by Colin Gramp form a grand entrance to the new home of St Hugo.
Tree avenue is Colin’s legacy His brother, Fred took over the vineyards and buildings.” Colin’s family connection to the new home of St Hugo is strong. In 1918 his father and uncle purchased the property from the family of William Jacob who built the original cellar where the new home stands, back in the early 1850s. Colin smiled as he remembered what the site had looked like, many years ago. “It was paddock with a track going into the old cellar basically. We used it for implements, tractors and things.... there were pigeons in the loft!” he laughed. It was Colin who planted the cork oak trees in 1971 that form the spectacular entrance to the home of St Hugo, from acorns obtained from the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. “When I went to Portugal I saw magnificent cork trees, that must have rung a bell later on and I thought about it when we had this roadway, this would be the ideal place. And so it is today. What a wonderful entrance!” As Colin admires the new home of St Hugo, he is pleased it includes a restaurant. Together with his wife Josie and son, Michael, they ran the Weinkeller Restaurant, built adjacent to the old cellar. “I’m thrilled because we were too early with our idea of a restaurant in the 70s. It was terrific for awhile but it was definitely ahead of it’s time.” He said his father would have been proud of the “beautiful building” on the estate. “If he’d have lived 70-80 years, I have a feeling he would be doing something like that. Something that is old and historic and tied up with Orlando through the purchase of the William Jacob property,” Colin said. “It’s certainly going to be a wonderful opportunity to promote the wine that is named in honour of my father, in a beautiful place like that. “I mean, it will not only be a great tourist attraction for people who like a good red, and in particular have fallen in love with St Hugo. They’ll enjoy going there and being able to taste different vintages with very appropriate food. “Yes, I’m definitely impressed!”
Mr Colin Gramp, of Tanunda with a photograph of his father, Hugo.
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Historical Milestones Louis “Hugo” Gramp is born on September 19, the youngest son to Gustav Gramp; grandson to the winery’s founder Johann Gramp who planted his first grapes in 1847. Tragically, Hugo Gramp passes away aged 43 with two fellow leaders of the Australian wine industry, in the Kyeema Air disaster. First vintage of St Hugo - a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon showing power and elegance. The wine is released as ‘St Hugo’ in Hugo’s honour in 1983.
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Hugo’s son and much loved Barossa identity, Mr Colin Gramp, remembers the day, as a 17 year old attending college in Adelaide, when his life changed forever. On October 25, 1938, Colin and fellow boarders had rushed to listen to the news, as they always did, and heard that the DC2 plane, the Kyeema had crashed on its way from Adelaide to Melbourne. “As usual, we always went to the common room to have a cup of tea and listen to the four o’clock news,” he said. “And that's when I unfortunately heard of my father's death." For Colin, who turns 95 on October 4, emotions are still strong as he remembers time spent with his father wine tasting on Friday nights, an experience he would cherish throughout his life. “I was so looking forward to working under dad and then, of course, with this tragic accident ... I had only had the opportunity for two years to study wine making with him. He had a wonderful palate, he was really gifted,” said Colin. Asked what he remembers of his father, he is quick to reply. “To start off, he had this brilliant mind, but he also had the energy! I can remember him, after dinner at night during the week... he said, “Excuse me, and children do your homework, I’m going to do my home work” and he’d go up to his office and do his correspondence after dinner at night, when it was quiet. “On weekends, especially at Easter, when I was around 15 - 16, I’d help to throw skins out of tanks and that, just to get the feel of it. Of course, I was urged on by my father!” It is clear Colin is proud of his father who was educated at Rowland Flat Primary School. “He was awarded by the public school inspector, 100% for all subjects in the junior class and then later on, 100% for all subjects in the senior class. He studied book keeping and business through correspondence whilst he helped his father, Gustav, run the business,” Colin explained. “Because he was so brilliant in mind, in wine making and general business, Gustav handed over the reins after dad married.
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St Hugo is expanded to become a range of fine red wines, including a Shiraz from the Barossa–where he had been born, lived and worked his entire life. St Hugo launches a new brand identity with the release of the 2010 vintage –the 30th vintage of St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Vetus Purum range is launched, the exquisite expression of ancient and pure terroir.
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St Hugo wines officially opens the doors of its new brand home in the Barossa.
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Mr Greg Stirling, Head of Brand Sites and Visitations, on the deck at the home of St Hugo.
perfection
Every detail of the new home of St Hugo is perfection. From the masterfully restored ironstone walls and use of glass to capture spectacular panoramic views, to the way the original 1854 building is blended into the new building, the thoughtful design unfolds as the story of St Hugo is discovered. Designed by Tanunda-based JBG Architects and built by the Ahrens Group, the renovation and construction was very much a local affair. Mr Greg Stirling, Head of Brand Sites and Visitations for Pernod Ricard Winemakers, said there was “a great sense of collaboration” during the 5 year project. Two stonemasons from Realstone worked for 6 months on the stone walls, alongside Glassco, Shapes of Green Landscaping, Syberax Bricklayers and Whiting Flooring, to create an elegant new addition to the Barossa. “Something that was really important was to try and create something that would stand the test of time and meet the benchmark globally,” Greg said. “Particularly in terms of who we are pitching at, which is the more affluent, luxury seeking traveller and JBG Architects really took the brief on board and integrated this into the design.” With an investment in excess of $5 million, Greg is confident the home of St Hugo will become “another icon in South Australia and the Barossa for food and wine tourism”. “One of the key components was the Regional Development Grant of $1 million, that was a real catalyst to get the project going. That support has obviously been enormously important.” Greg said the key to the overall design of St Hugo was to “take a customer view” and think about how visitors would want to enjoy the site and engage in the bespoke experiences to be offered. “Everything, right from the entrance and the way the cork trees are lit up at night, gives this beautiful sense of arrival right from the moment you come through the gates... I think those are the kinds of things that have been very deliberate in our planning and our thinking through this project.” Enhancing the St Hugo experience are the perfect acoustics and use of travertine stone and blackbutt timber throughout, adding a timeless appeal. “There are also some wonderful touches in terms of the interior with the brass and the marble. So it does create this beautiful, elegant space."
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The home of St Hugo has two levels offering a range of bespoke experiences with each space having a different purpose. Through the glass door entrance is the Wine Lounge. It’s here where soft, sumptuous leather seating await guests who will enjoy the warm ambiance by the fire place or the sunshine on the surrounding deck. A marble topped bar, tables and chairs and friendly, knowledgeable staff offer their expertise as the St Hugo history is brought to life. “It’s a really nice way to experience different wines and to sit back, relax and enjoy the views that we have on this floor.” Turning right at the entrance will bring you into the beautifully appointed restaurant which features original ironstone walls, picture windows and an open kitchen complete with a chef’s table. “What you see is a beautiful space. Its only forty-four seats – or fifty if you include the chef’s table - so it’s quite a small, intimate space. During the day you have stunning views and at night the warm ambience created by the lighting. It’s a glorious dining venue, day or night.” Downstairs, either via the marble stairs or elevator is a walled courtyard which is also part of the original 1854 building, overlooked by a new private tasting area adjacent to The Hugo Gramp Room where back vintages are stored at perfect cellaring temperature surrounding a custom-made teardrop shaped table. “We dug out about 900 tonnes of Barossa soil to create that underground space. That is reserved very much for those bespoke experiences, we are able to do very high-end corporate meetings or lunches or tastings for up to 20 people.” Another room is protected by a fingerprint lock. Called the “Sainthood Vault”, it awaits discovery only by those who purchase the ultimate “Sainthood” experience and will house custom-made St Hugo wines until they have reached prefect maturity. “The Sainthood Vault is a space that is exclusive to our fine wine experiences at that absolute luxury end.” Greg is delighted with the results and is looking forward to a “very positive” future for the home of St Hugo and the role it will play in the Barossa. “We are situated in an amazing place, surrounded by vineyards with wonderful rolling topography. You look over the Barossa Ranges, over the gum trees and the natural environment. It’s a very relaxing place to sit down, have a glass of wine and enjoy this beautiful region.”
We are very pleased that our support of the $1 million Regional 2 Development Grant has made the opening of the new St Hugo brand home possible. St Hugo showcases how our regional areas can deliver world class developments and experiences. It is a beautiful place to visit, and a great investment in the region. - The Honourable Geoff Brock MP, Minister for Regional Development
Power and elegance... Guiding the style of St Hugo’s range of red wines is the responsibility of Chief Winemaker, Daniel Swincer. With a flair for harnessing the potential of the finest grapes each vintage, Dan and his team continue to uphold St Hugo’s esteemed reputation for excellence that has built over more than 30 years. “The ethos of St Hugo wines is power and elegance,” said Dan who joined the Gramp & Sons winemaking team in the Barossa back in 2006, learning alongside winemaking legends including Philip Laffer, Bernard Hickin, Sam Kurtz and Don Young. For Dan, having the home of St Hugo in the Barossa is an important and exciting chapter in the iconic label’s story. “Being based in the Barossa takes visitors to St Hugo back to the heritage of the man after whom the brand is named,” Dan said. “It’s where Hugo Gramp lived and worked his entire life. We continue to uphold Hugo’s philosophy of making premium wines - finding the best vineyards and making the best possible wines.” The key to crafting St Hugo has always been to start in the vineyard, selecting blocks for their excellent terroir and tasting fruit as it ripens, to decide the exact day the fruit should be picked.
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St Hugo Chief Winemaker, Dan Swincer.
...the St Hugo ethos Such decisions are critical and Dan said the Barossa region offers the winemaker an ideal opportunity to capture subtle nuances between vineyards. “Because we get such diverse fruit and make diverse wines from the north of the Barossa to the South up into Eden Valley, we can really shape the style and tone of our wines at blending,” he said. “We have St Hugo Barossa Shiraz which is a blend of different vineyards around the Barossa, and we also have St Hugo Private Collection wines that are unique sub-regional blends. “Here at the home of St Hugo, we have a Private Collection Shiraz from the Seppeltsfield sub region, and we have one from the Rowland Flat area, and we have a wine that’s a Shiraz Cabernet blend. In future vintages, we intend to release wines from Eden Valley and Marananga. So we’ve got this great opportunity to showcase the Barossa, as well as all the other fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon wines
we make from Coonawarra.” With an emphasis on achieving the highest quality from each region, Dan said most fruit is sourced from local growers, many with long connections with the company. “It’s all about building a relationship with the growers; we want the best fruit and the best grapes we can get and I think the growers like to deal with people that offer and can show what we can do with their grapes,” Dan explained. The name of the grape grower appears on the label of the top St Hugo single vineyard wines, adding to the ever-important story that wine connoisseurs seek. “At the top level, we have the Vetus Purum range which comprises two single vineyard wines, one from the Barossa and one from Coonawarra. “The fruit for the first Vetus Purum Barossa Shiraz is from Graeme Koch, just across the road from here. “If you are selling wine and want to have wine at that higher price
point, people really want to know the story behind it. Obviously, being the Barossa, there are a lot of really good stories to tell.” Those narratives and the beautifully distinctive wines that tell them, are the focus of the bespoke experiences to be discovered at the new home of St Hugo. A wine “tasting flight” hosted in its relaxed and exclusive setting will showcase the different expressions of perfectly balanced fruit intensity and fine structural tannins, which capture the personality of each unique vintage. “I think at the home of St Hugo, it’s all about people coming in and being able to experience different expressions of the wine and to get to know the personality of St Hugo. Each vintage, we can really show what the year gave and what that block gave as well. “This includes some really unique wines that showcase what the Barossa has to offer.”
A sublime synergy of wine and food Connoisseurs of luxury will be able to enjoy a sensory journey of intimate fine dining and bespoke wine tastings at the St Hugo brand home. An intimate, 50-seat restaurant is nestled within ironstone walls where arched picture windows frame the vineyard landscape beyond. For Barossa based executive chef, Mark McNamara, cooking has always been about the place where he lives; sourcing local, seasonal produce where possible and celebrating its culinary joys. At St Hugo, a new standard is being set as Mark works collaboratively to create four and eight course menus offered in an exquisite restaurant setting. Each dish has been created to “enhance and complement” a unique St Hugo wine. “In terms of what we are doing food wise, it’s really about the wine,” Mark said. “The wine leads the food. We actually start with the wine first, that’s the point of difference.” With the view that wine and food are natural partners, Mark along with fellow chefs, chief winemaker Daniel Swincer and sommelier James Boden, seek the perfect ingredients to showcase the individual characteristics of each wine. “A lot of people know St Hugo as a Cabernet Sauvignon. What they may not be aware of is that four or five years ago, the range expanded,” Mark explained. “With the launch of the home here,
there is a whole range of Private Collection wines that are either sub regional expressions or single vineyard wines that show a particular terroir. “The shiraz from Rowland Flat and the shiraz from Seppeltsfield are chalk and cheese when it comes to the ingredients that go with it. That subtle layering means you see the wine in a different light.” The wine list will keep changing and with it, the menu. And whilst the wines are finished and ready to be enjoyed as they are, Mark says that by contrast, the food is not fixed. The choice of ingredients in each dish can be crafted. “It’s a creative process and I guess it’s a changing palette of flavours depending on the picture we have to draw. Here’s the wine, that’s the start of the picture, and we are layering the food around it.” Harmony and balance are the key to dining at St Hugo and Mark is excited about how the menu will evolve in synergy with the wines of the past, present and future. “It’s great to get up every morning... having people look at the wines anew and understanding that food is actually informed by the wine. “That is a different thing... it gives the team in the kitchen a real sense of accomplishment and there is a great amount of creativity that goes into that.” The result is an elegant and interesting menu that unfolds course by course into a sensory journey second to none.
The intimate restaurant at the home of St Hugo features iron stone walls and vineyard views.
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The new St Hugo home is a magnificent addition to the Barossa, and I expect it will attract not just wine lovers from across the globe but also new high-end culinary tourism to the region. - Mr Chris Pfeiffer, Tourism Barossa Chairman
Executive chef, Mark McNamara is passionate about what the Barossa has to offer in terms of wine and food.
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WE tOOk AS MuCH CArE In BuIlDIng yOur nEW St HugO HOME AS yOu tAkE CrEAtIng yOur DIStInguISHED WInES. Ahrens is a national full-service construction, engineering and mining services company, delivering a complete range of project services and cost-effective solutions. We’ve been based in the Barossa for over 110 years and love working on beautiful projects so close to home. It was fantastic working with the St Hugo team and we look forward to many days and nights at your wonderful facilities. Our ability to deliver a full range of services – from design, steel fabrication and procurement through to construction and project delivery – means we are a one-stop shop for cost-effective project solutions locally and across Australia. We specialise in: > Design and construction;
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St Hugo, the ultimate expression of luxury For those who enjoy the finer things in life, little compares to time spent at the new home of St Hugo. Described as the “ultimate expression of life’s luxuries”, a St Hugo’s Fine Wine Experience immerses visitors into a world of elegance, inspired by the legacy of Hugo Gramp and his pursuit of excellence. Bespoke Experiences Coordinator, Ms Cathy Gladigau said the venue was planned in perfect keeping with the St Hugo philosophy of “power and elegance”. “With every experience we offer, we want it to be very bespoke and very exclusive,” explained Cathy. “That’s why we have separate areas to enjoy different experiences. From our wine lounge and our restaurant that are open to all visitors, to the indoor and outdoor areas downstairs for our more exclusive experiences.” St Hugo’s highly knowledgeable team offer a range of experiences, from savouring a glass of wine on the deck or by the open fire, or a tasting flight of four or so wines in the wine lounge, to private tastings downstairs in The Hugo Gramp Room, or private lunch in the courtyard. A maximum of 8 people for estate tours and six for the chef’s table ensure personalised service, second to none. “You have that real one-on-one interaction, whether it be with our sommelier, James Boden, or one of our chefs,” Cathy said. “We have daily experiences. One of them is our estate Tour and Tasting. On this tour, guests are invited down stairs, told the details of our beautiful building and walked through the history of Hugo Gramp and his incredible life. “They get to walk through the vineyards, see the cork trees planted by Hugo’s son, Colin, then indulge in private
tasting which tells the story of St Hugo’s past, present and future meaning guests taste a back vintage, current vintage and also a future vintage which is drawn from barrels that are maturing on site.” At the very highest level, and with a premium price point of $150,000, the Sainthood experience includes a chartered flight to the Coonawarra region where guests will see for themselves the unique vineyard soil famed as “Terra Rossa”. They then choose and name their own row of St Hugo vines in the premium vineyard, and receive regular updates on how they are progressing. Interest is already piquing from international travellers seeking the ultimate in luxury and refinement. “They will spend three days with us, including five star dining, lunches and dinners. They will also do a private blending experience with Dan Swincer, our chief winemaker and actually get to blend their own batch of wine which will include parcels of wines from their own named row,” Cathy said. “Some of that handcrafted wine will be stored in the Vault which is reserved for the Sainthood and which has fingerprint access. Only those Sainthood experiences guests and the Chief Winemaker will have access to that room.” The specially blended wine will be cellared, bottled and stored for future generations, and delivered to them by a winemaker when it has matured to perfection. “Once they go home, they will be sent a selection of St Hugo’s best wines for three years while they wait for their own bespoke blend to achieve maturation. It’s that real legacy experience, spending that time whilst they are here and continuing that journey when they return home as well that sets us apart.”
The wine list comprises the full range of St Hugo wines, including four “Private Collection” wines sold exclusively at the St Hugo home, together with a 1925 fortified wine made during the time when the brand’s name sake - Hugo Gramp managed the G.Gramp & Sons winery.
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It is wonderful to see such an esteemed wine brand like St Hugo build its home in the Barossa, in a building that captures the rich history of the region, while introducing some exceptional new Barossa wines. - James March, CEO, Barossa Grape & Wine Association
Cathy Gladigau, Bespoke Experience Coordinator, in The Hugo Gramp Room where up to 20 guests can experience an exclusive wine tasting.
St Hugo Brand Experience Manager, Eileen Low in the courtyard in the downstairs area of the home of St Hugo.
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