Wine Literature of the World

Forgotten heroes

John Davoren John Davoren (1915 -1991) was one of Australia's most innovative makers of red wine. A master blender he was the creator of Penfold's St Henri Claret. Born into a winemaking family, throughout his life he was closely associated with Penfolds, his father being manager of their Dalwood property. John worked at Dalwood, Griffith and then Minchinbury. He was manager of the Auldana Cellars, Magill 1947-1973.

In the early 1950s he developed a lighter, stalky, unwooded red, St Henri claret, in complete contrast to the huge, heavily oaked wine Max Schubert (see OzWater) was developing for his Grange Hermitage. A triumph of the blenderÅfs art, St Henri has nevertheless been described as "the poor manÅfs Grange". The original grapes came from the cool climate of Paracombe in the Adelaide Hills, resulting in a more elegant and lighter bodied wine.

Jack Kilgour Jack Kilgour was one of South AustraliaÅfs best-known technical winemen. A graduate of Roseworthy Agricultural College he first joined Stonyfell winery in 1932. There he spent 27 years as a winemaker, specializing in fortified wines, most notably the 1945 Stonyfell vintage port. In 1959 he left to manage Tatachilla winery, followed by periods as manager of the Emu Wine Co. and Southern Vales Co-op., ending his working life as senior winemaker for Thomas Hardy. A judge of the Adelaide Wine Show 1961-1970, he recommended the introduction of varietal classes.