FROM VINE TO TABLE
The Vineyard
THE MOFFATDALE RIDGE STORY
A Family Passion
“Moffatdale Ridge” is a family owned and operated vineyard in the heart of the South Burnett’s wine growing region Moffatdale, a region settled by early German settlers.
Jason and Susan Kinsella and their three children, Geoff, Josh and Emily, have a long family association with the region, dating back four generations, producing premium wines which are now sold all around the world.
OUR HERITAGE
The story began almost a century ago when Susan’s grandparents, Benjamin and Fredrieka Sempf, hardworking German immigrants, came to Australia in the 1910s. First settling in the Fassifern Valley, then moved to Moffatdale in 1921 when the government was dividing huge pastoral leases into smaller farming properties and where they secured 240acres at Moffatdale.
As a pioneering family of the region, they were conventional farmers they grew small crops, such as potatoes and onions etc as well as dairy and pork production. Susan’s parents continued the hard work and with their success, they gradually purchased neighbouring farms as they became available, culminating in 1880 acres combined – With their retirement Susan’s parent sold the farm with Susan and Jason purchasing 360acres in 1993 and that become the legacy and foundation of Moffatdale Ridge Winery.
THE PASSION
It was Jason and Sue’s passion to not only continue the family legacy, but also create a viable farm that could involve the whole family.
Born in Redcliffe, Jason has lived in Moffatdale most of his life. A Baker by trade, and then a Cheesemaker, winemaking was a logical progression and what he is most passionate about. For Jason it has always been about family, so working together with Sue and the children was the cornerstone philosophy behind everything they do, allowing them to grow as a family business and successfully merge family, lifestyle and winemaking into a viable farming enterprise that they are both grateful for, and enjoy.
THE VINEYARD
Moffatdale Ridge saw the first vines planted in 1996 with the first commercial wines produced in 2001. Starting with 10 acres, the vineyard was expanded to 13 acres and with exciting growth in domestic and export sales a further 50 acres is planned for the coming year. The remainder of the land is home to their prized Brangus beef herd.
The cellar door and restaurant followed in 2003 and in 2015 a new state of the art winery building was constructed allowing them to bring all of the processing back on site and increase capacity to a staggering 10,000 cases per annum.
Moffatdale Ridge is now the home to the entire process from the vine right through to the bottle and onto the table!
THE WINEMAKER
Jason is a self-taught winemaker who makes his wines in a distinctive style, designed to suit local Queensland growing and drinking conditions.
When he and Susan began, they did not even drink wine, but it has come to be their sole passion, feeling that because the children are involved it has become less about what they do and become more about who they are.
Passionate about the region’s fantastic produce, Jason aims to make wine that allows both the produce and the wine to shine, believing that food pairing is an important part of the process.
He believes, as the old Italian’s do, that wine should be made to be enjoyed by people on the land on which it is grown – so Moffatdale Ridge wines are made to be enjoyed with the food, climate and lifestyle of the region, meaning that their white wines are light, fresh and zesty, and their reds are a little softer, so they are enjoyable in a warmer climate.
THE WINES
The Kinsella Family grow Verdelho, Semillon, Fiano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero D’Avola and Shiraz grapes. Jason suggests that while predominantly these varieties were selected and planted for their suitability to the climate and sales potential, some were also planted purely by lucky chance!
New plantings have seen a shift to Mediterranean varieties such as Fiano and Nero D’Avola due to the success of their Verdelho, and the recognition that Italian, Portuguese and Spanish varieties are more suited to the South East Queensland climate as well as a general acceptance in the market.
THE SEASON
The Moffatdale Ridge season begins in late August when they complete pruning in readiness for budburst in early September and the growing season continues until December.
Verdelho is the first variety to be picked, interrupting their Christmas festivities by starting as early as the 23rd December, followed by the other white varieties in early January. The harvest of the reds coming to an end by mid February.
We love the whole cycle, but each year we prune the vines with a sense of excitement about what the coming season will bring. For our family there is nothing more rewarding than pouring the entire year’s work into a glass and have someone say they love it.
THE FOOD
The D’vine Restaurant’s menu is an inspired showcase of produce grown in the region.
As chef Susan believes that in Queensland we want food that works with our lifestyle, resulting in whites that are crisp and refreshing, and reds that are a little softer and believes that is what they are delivering. The consumer has also become more adventurous than when they first began with a general awareness of what constitutes a good wine as well as an understanding of food pairings, which is great. People are really enjoying wines, and Susan loves nothing more than seeing their wines appreciated both nationally and internationally.
THE FUTURE
Moffatdale Ridge has shifted significantly for where it all began. Initially the focus was solely on tourism and cellar door visits but as focus shifted, they developed a strong domestic presence in restaurants as well as satellite cellar doors. However, it is their growing export market that has gone from strength to strength, with expanding markets in Singapore, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan.
