Scotch College

Bill Chambers honoured

A Living Legend

The Winemakers of Rutherglen have proclaimed Bill Chambers ('49) of Rosewood Vineyard, one of the oldest continuously family owned vineyards in Victoria, a Living Legend and celebrated his status with a weekend of wine and food events over the weekend Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November 2000.

The Chambers family have been a part of the Australian wine industry for 142 years, beginning with William Chambers, who founded the family vineyard in 1858 and who have grown grapes and made wine since.

William "Bill" Chambers was born in 1933 and after his education at Scotch attended Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia, where be won a Gold medal graduating with First Class Honours in oenology.

After time with the Citizens Military Service reaching the rank of Lieutenant, Bill made wine at the Stanley Wine Company in Clare, before returning to Rutherglen in north east Victoria to run the family's Rosewood Vineyard and farming business.

Bill Chambers started wine judging in 1962 and has been Chairman of Judges at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show for 21 years, where in 1994 he was presented with the Presidents Medal and made a life member. In 1998 the Victorian Wine Industry Association honoured him with a Distinguished Service Award.

With a self imposed "low profile" in Australia, Bill was heralded by leading American wine writer Robert Parker Junior, in the powerful Wine Spectator magazine, as "the undisputed king of the fortified wine business" and remarking on the Rosewood wines, "The most exceptional I have ever tasted"

Fine livery is not Bill's mode of attire, he is happiest while farming, tending his sheep and winemaking or more than likely in a quiet spot in the winery engrossed in a book of fine literature.

To celebrate Bill's new Living Legion of Rutherglen status, the Winemakers of Rutherglen and the Chambers Family held a series of events to honour the occasion, over the weekend Saturday 18 November and Sunday 19 November.

Special events included the District Shiraz and Chardonnay Masterclass at Rosewood Cellars Barkly Street Rutherglen, including a rarity of the world's wine grapes, Gouais, the parent of Chardonnay, and the only planting in Australia and one of only three plantings in the world.

Legends Gourmet Dinner at Tuileries Restaurant Rutherglen, featured special speakers and wines, on Saturday 18 November.

Bill has always been a great supporter of the Old boys North East Branch. Those attending the Dinners can affirm that Bill thoroughly deserves the title of Living Legend.

Ian Loftus