museum release

Langmeil is home to The Freedom Shiraz, believed to be planted in 1843 by vigneron Christian Auricht. Escaping war and persecution in Prussia, Auricht travelled to his new homeland, finding freedom in the Barossa Valley. The original plantings still survive and are some of the oldest and rarest vines in the world.

Orphan Bank is testament to Langmeil’s commitment to preserving old and rare Barossa vineyards. Ten rows of Shiraz planted pre-1860 were saved from the developer’s bulldozer and replanted alongside the original Langmeil vineyard on the banks of the North Para River. We called these ten rows the “Orphans”, but after 150 years they have a new home.

Jackaman’s vineyard is home to Langmeil’s finest and rarest Cabernet Sauvignon, planted in the 1960s during the Cabernet revolution in the Barossa. This vineyard was lovingly tended by the colourful Barossan Arthur Jackaman, a World War II paratrooper, boxer and butcher who in retirement passed his small plot into Langmeil’s care.

The Fifth Wave is Langmeil’s most treasured Old Vine Garden Grenache and is dedicated to the fifth generation of the Lindner family. The vineyard was planted in 1973 and serves as a call to arms to preserve, promote and protect the best of the Barossa as well as an oft-overlooked variety.