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Chalk it Up
Chalk Hill Winery South Australia
Located 45 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is the birthplace of South Australian wines. Situated on the pristine coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the picturesque region boasts more than 80 local vineyards and an impressive array of culinary delights. It’s no surprise this world-class wine region is internationally renowned as a foodies’ paradise. McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate delivers warm summers, moderate winters and winter-dominant rainfall.
These conditions make the region prime for award winning shiraz and grenache, alongside a wide range of Spanish and Italian varieties. Leading the way in organic practices, water management and climate-appropriate plantings, McLaren Vale is also one of the most environmentally sustainable grape growing regions in Australia.
But achieving organic certification for wine is no simple feat. It takes a special skillset and a passion for wine – something that runs in viticulturalist Jock Harvey’s blood. Jock was born and raised in the wine country of McLaren Vale. Six generations of the Harvey family have lived on this land, refining and perfecting the art of winemaking through the family-owned business Chalk Hill Wines.
As a child, Jock played among the rows of vines. It was only natural he’d one day enter the family business. This life instilled within him a passion for farming. “For us, it’s always been about agriculture,” Jock explains. “Initially we were in almonds and horticulture, but when the landscape shifted, we made the decision to focus on grapes and hitting this nail on the head.”
The family owns eight vineyards in the region, but the Harvey family are more than just winemakers. In 2020, they opened their first cellar door, nestled atop one of their organic vineyards. The business has several other tenants, including gin distillery Never Never and Italian restaurant Cucina di Strada.“We like to offer our visitors the ultimate food and beverage experience,” says Jock, “but for me, the most important part is growing the best quality grape around.”
With a Bachelor of Agriculture Science under his belt, Jock has experience in winemaking and viticulture across the southern and northern hemispheres. After gaining international experience in the US, Europe and South America, he returned home and decided to share his knowledge. And Chalk Hill Viticulture was born.
“Chalk Hill Viticulture is our contracting business, which provides tailored solutions for growers,” Jock explains. “We help them produce fruit to their desired specification through economic and environmentally sustainable practices.
“We offer services including machinery operations, labour support and technical services to assist with managing vineyards throughout the year. We also provide support during the busy harvesting season, which as you can imagine, gets pretty hectic, especially for the smaller operators.”
Between contracting specialist machinery and providing an extra set of hands during harvest season, Chalk Hill Viticulture manages 25 vineyards in McLaren Vale. “It comes down to our team, who are all passionate about the work and really know their stuff when it comes to vineyard management, particularly when working on wineries that are completely organic.”
With more vineyards switching to organic practices, the industry is ever-evolving. But at Chalk Hill, the one constant is operations manager Scott Ledgard. Scott began working in the family-owned business 20 years ago, straight out of high school. A McLaren Vale local, his first job was driving tractors at the Chalk Hill vineyards. “My family has all worked on vineyards,” Scott explains. “It was an industry I was exposed to growing up and an area I always knew I wanted to work in. Being able to work alongside Jock and grow within the Chalk Hill business has been incredible.”
"I WAS TOLD IT COULDN’T BE DONE... BUT IT CAN BE DONE"
Scott manages a core team of 14, with increased staff numbers during labour-intensive periods such as pruning and harvest. His role as operations manager is pivotal, guiding vineyards through the intricacies of each season and ensuring the smooth functioning of day-to-day activities.
“It’s the variety of the job which is exciting. You’re never doing the same thing all year round. Each year is different from the last, and we’re always looking for other ways to deliver the best possible results.”
But life among the vines does come with challenges. Integrating chemical-free fertilisers, fungicides and herbicides is finicky, technical work. “Growing grapes is all about timing, so when you add in changing weather it keeps us on our toes,” Scott notes.
“In our region we work with organic vineyards a lot too, which makes it harder timewise. But for me it’s worth it. It’s important we’re looking after the land for future generations.” As vintage season unfolds, Scott ensures Chalk Hill’s operations run smoothly with the help of Kubota machinery.
“I remember when I first started at Chalk Hill we had one tractor in our fleet. We kept adding more and more, and now it’s only Kubota. The machines are reliable and easy to use and maintain.
“We initially had the M7580, which was a great tractor and did a lot of work early on.
These performed so well we purchased M9540s, which provide the grunt, allowing us to utilise different pieces of machinery across all seasons. Vintage, which falls between February and April, is our busiest time of year,” Scott explains. “Kubota ensures we can meet the demands of the harvest with ease.”
Scott and the Chalk Hill team go to G & J East in Strathalbyn for all things Kubota. From parts and maintenance to entirely new machines, the dealer is a vital resource for the viticultural business.
“The G & J East team have been great in understanding what machinery and support we need,” Scott says. “Like I said before, timing is everything for us, so knowing we have timely support if we need it is vital.”
A well-established name in wine country, the Chalk Hill team continue to develop and grow their businesses across the region. The allure of a fine drop means sometimes wine drinkers overlook the arduous labour that goes into producing a bottle. As Jock Harvey jokes, “You should never criticise a farmer with your mouth full.” This couldn’t be truer in today’s age at Chalk Hill Wines. With an environmental ethos top of mind, Chalk Hill ensure each sip of wine embodies not only excellence but also their dedication to sustainability.
“Of course, people are entitled to their own opinions, but at Chalk Hill we are about offering a variety of flavours while owning up and taking responsibility for the stewardship of land and water,” Jock says.
“Feeding people, creating a delicious drop – it’s what I love to do.” And cheers to that!
