The initial planting comprised 2.5 acres each of Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dorham Mann assisted Bill Jamieson in the vineyard establishment and Ian Cameron, from the Swan Research Station, supplied the cuttings for this vineyard and for those that started over the following 10 years.
Others in the district soon followed suit. In 1967, John Roche of the Frankland River Grazing Company planted 5 acres on his property on the banks of the Frankland River. In 1968, Ernie Mead planted 5 acres at Denbarker and persuaded Tony Smith, a near neighbour, to do the same. Ernie died in 1976 and his vineyard died with him, but Tony’s vineyard thrives today and remains part of the portfolio of vineyards run or owned by Plantagenet Wines.
The first vintage from the initial Jamieson plantings was harvested in 1972 and produced a startlingly good Riesling. The subsequent 1973 vintage is still the state’s most awarded, with the wines still winning gold medals and trophies 10 years later. The vineyard reverted to the Pearse family in 1976 and further plantings were made from 1980.
Tony’s vineyard, Bouverie, produced its first crop in 1974. This was the first crop produced privately around Mount Barker and was processed at Sandalford Wines in the Swan Valley.
In 1975 Plantagenet Wines purchased an apple-packing shed in Mount Barker and converted it into a winery. That year 10 tonnes were processed to produce the first commercially made wine at Mount Barker.