Ross Gehrig

JOHN GEHRIG WINES

Ross Gehrig - Winemaker

In terms of wine dynasties Ross Gehrig boasts from the fifth generation of Victoria's oldest winemaking family.

'Well, one of the oldest,' Ross corrects, not wanting to incite controversy. 'Give or take a year or two.'

When talking to Ross, he refuses to mince words and reveals a true blue personality that's as genuine as the product he creates. How did he end up in the family business? 'Probably stupidity,' he laughs. 'And a competitiveness to be better than my old man.'

The youngest of four siblings, Ross remembers driving tractors around the vineyard and topping up barrels at the tender age of six. The trick was to stick your finger in the barrel to avoid over-filling and, as a result, those many years of finger licking drove his natural curiosity and developed his taste for wine.

'My sole aim is to grow grapes and make wine,' says Ross of the focus of his vineyard. No café. No restaurant. John Gehrig Wines is all about wine, wine and more wine.

'If visitors want some good food, I send them down to my friend at the King River Café.' That type of networking and support is common across the operators of Victoria's North East.

Ross admires the old school approach to winemaking and conducting business - where a shake of the hand and a person's word were as airtight as any contract on paper. As if to exemplify such tried and tested methods, people are greeted by old-fashioned flagons of port, as well as bottles of wine, when visiting the Gehrigs' cellar door - the likes of which are very rarely seen in this modern age.

'You can actually taste the passion when someone has taken the time to make a good product,' Ross states. 'You can really tell when someone's put in that little bit extra.'

John Gehrig Wines 80 Gehrigs Lane Oxley Ph: 03 5727 3395 www.johngehrigwines.com.au