Cullen Wines

Posted on July 1, 2014 By Eva Robinson Alcohol

About

The production of the Cullen wines began more than 40 years ago on the Cullen property in Margaret River. Some studies made in early 1960s showed that this region had some very special qualities. The climate was ideal for growing Bordelais and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. On the advice of Dr. John Gladstones- a well known agronomist, Diana and Dr. Kevin Cullen back in 1966 at Wilyabrup, started to cultivate a trial acre of grapes. Later they expanded their farm with around 18 acres of grapes, including their first Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, planted between 1976 and 1978. While Kevin worked as a doctor in order to finance their wine business, his wife Diana managed and supervised the winery, and in 1981 she become the chief winemaker.

Diana Cullen made history in 1982 as being the first woman who won a trophy in the Pert Royal Show. She passed all her wine knowledge to her daughter Vanya, who was in 1989 appointed a chief winemaker and Managing Director. Sadly, Dr. Kevin Cullen passed away in 1994 and his wife Diana in 2003, and the Cullen wines “Diana Medeline” (Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot) and “Kevin John Chardonnay” were created in their honor. In 2005, the “Diana Medeline Cabernet Merlot” was included in the top ‘Exceptional’ category. This category includes the best 11 Australian wines. The “Kevin John Chardonnay 2007” was awarded the World’s Best Chardonnay at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2010. Committed to bio-dynamic viticulture, the Cullen winery became an iconic winery focused on integrity, sustainability and quality.

Products

All wines from the Cullen winery are grown on a naturally powered, carbon neutral and certified bio-dynamic estate. The wine grapes are hand harvested on flower and fruit days as stated by the Astrological calendar. The Cullen wines don’t include additions of acid, malolactic culture or yeast. The Cullen wines express the land and place on which they are grown, the people and the vintage.

Red Wines – The quality of the Cullen red wines lies in the ripeness of tannin. The style of the wine is framed around its fine tannins coaxed from wine grapes grown on the Low Yielding wine plants. This category includes the “Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot” which is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The Mangan wine is made from grapes grown at the Cullen Mangan vineyard and it is a mix of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Margaret River Red is an early drinking Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

White Wines – The Cullen white wines are known for their balance and purity. This comes from the bio-dynamic philosophy and the vineyard site itself. The grapes for the Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Chardonnay are like all other grapes, harvested by hand. The Cullen Chardonnay wine gets its incredible colour and taste from the fermentation process. This wine is placed for fermentation into barrels with indigenous yeasts. In order to keep the varietal freshness, the Semillon wine is fermented in tanks, while the Sauvignon Blanc is part-fermented with indigenous yeas.

Video Commercials and Ads

Beautiful view of Cullen vineyard from the Cullen Restaurant