Boomey Times For Tamburlaine

Tamburlaine Organic Wines has purchased Boomey vineyard in Central West New South Wales.

The vineyard was previously part of the Cumulus operation.

The 645-hectare property, planted with 507 hectares of vineyard, is situated across the rolling hills of Boomey, just northeast of Molong and 30 minutes from the Orange CBD.

In time for the 2020 vintage, Tamburlaine bought what was originally the Cabonne winery at Cudal, a 20-year-old, 12,000 tonne facility designed to process the Boomey grape production alongside fruit from other vineyards in the region.

The increasing demand for Orange region organic fruit led Tamburlaine to investigate the potential of purchasing Boomey.

“As a result, the Cudal winery and Boomey vineyard have been reunited. We are simply putting the band back together,” says Mark Davidson, Tamburlaine’s managing director.

“I believe that at the time of planting in the mid-1990s, the Boomey vineyard was the largest single site planting in the southern hemisphere.

“Once fully certified organic, along with existing company vineyards, Bellview (105 hectares) and Borenore (90 hectares), we will hold approximately 700 hectares of certified vineyard in the region.”

Situated right on the Orange region’s 600 metre geographical boundary, this mature, well-managed vineyard has a history of growing quality fruit which is certain to fully ripen in the colder seasons and complements the company’s substantial vineyard holdings at higher altitudes.

Underpinning the vineyard’s ongoing sustainability is quality basalt and limestone-based soils and excellent water availability.

“With some other growers in the region now adopting organic practices as well, Orange must lay claim as the capital of premium organic wine production in Australia. It is certainly a region with all the right qualities and a proven track record,” Mark says.

Boomey has substantial plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, plus a number of other classic wine varieties.

Mark says there will be some substantial grafting in the seasons ahead to add other commercially-trending varieties and a few that are better adapted to a warming climate.

Currently, 301 hectares of the Boomey vineyard is either fully certified organic or in conversion, with plans to shift entirely to certified organic production over the coming years.

“We have retained the experienced vineyard team which has done such a good job over the years and are keen to adapt to a contemporary organic program across the whole place, led by manager Russ Quilty and viticulturist Marty Gransden,” says Mark.