160 YEARS ON WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM Tahbilk began exporting fortified wine to England in the mid-1860s and immigrants, particularly Italian and Greek, changed our life style and suddenly table continued to slowly increase export sales until 1876, when the winery entered wine was a beverage that became part of everyday life. Domestic sales improved and its first golden age, and sales exploded to the extent that by 1890 Tahbilk was Eric decided it was time to reinvigorate export sales, a decision that was to be shaped by exporting 50 hogsheads (15,000 litres)/month to London, which was a the sad passing of Reginald Purbrick in August, 1950. Reginald had returned to live in substantial achievement, as well as the same level of sales in the colony of London, and Eric was obliged to return to England to wind up his father’s affairs. Victoria itself. Sadly, Tahbilk then entered a prolonged period of decline until While visiting a mutual friend at the time, Eric met Sydney FJ Fells whose company, after the First World War and with that decline export, and domestic, sales John E Fells & Sons, specialised in importing Australian wines. Through this suffered accordingly. The international market was almost non-existent connection Chateau Tahbilk (as was our moniker in those days) ‘sidled into the UK during this period and the movement of ships to Europe during the First market’ by exporting two hogsheads of white wine, which weresoon followed by World War eliminated transport of wine to London. hogsheads of red wine. My great grandfather Reginald Purbrick purchased Tahbilk in 1925 and In 1952, John E Fells & Sons’ “Koala” brand of Australian wines included ‘Victorian charged his 28 year old son, Eric, with managing the restoration of the Estate Claret, Chateau Tahbilk (Shiraz Grape), Victorian Hock, Chateau Tahbilk (White and Winery’s fortunes which he began in 1931. He enthusiastically applied Hermitage Grape), and Victorian Chablis (Marsanne Grape). In the same year, Fells himself to the task but unfortunately the world was in the grip of the great submitted a bottle of Chateau Tahbilk Marsanne for a Royal occasion. In 1953, it was global depression at this time which meant that this restoration was going to selected and served at the Heads of Commonwealth luncheon to Her Royal Highness, be a slow process. Grandfather persevered and had some success in restoring Queen Elizabeth the Second, a high honour indeed. Tahbilk’s fortunes in the Australian market during his first decade but then the This Royal occasion was the beginning of many honours. By 1956, Sydney Fells, was Second World War intervened which stopped all progress until the War ended. able to tell grandfather Eric that his hock-style wines were listed at the Savoy Hotel, Post the War everything changed in Australia. The influx of European London – proving that not only had Chateau Tahbilk wines travelled well, but the wine 02 www.tahbilk.com.au@tahbilkwinery@tahbilkwinery@tahbilkwineryalisterpurbrick@tahbilk.com.au