Following an award winning history at Michelton, Traeger struck out on his own, and was met with immediate success. David Traeger established his operation at the Nagambie Lakes of central Victoria in 1978, focussing on Shiraz and Verdelho. Nagambie Lakes is a sub-region of the Goulburn Valley, located in the south along the Goulburn River. The soils formed on the banks of the Goulburn River are red brown, clay loams of moderate fertility with ridges of red sandy loams thrown up by the river system and more ironstone deposits located to the west.
Here some classic European varieties have found their own niche such as Syrah (Shiraz) originally sourced from France's Rhone Valley and Verdelho from Portugal. The David Traeger Cellar Door is located in an historic 1870 wine cellar next to the picturesque Nagambie Lake.
David Traeger’s vineyards are located at Hughes Creek south of Nagambie, and at Graytown where a historic vineyard (planted in 1892) of Shiraz and Grenache has been brought back into production. The range of wines has deliberately been kept limited, it includes a Cabernet blend (including Merlot and Cabernet Franc), a Shiraz and the highly trumpeted Verdelho (a white variety showing strong consumer interest).
David maintains full control of the David Traeger Wines range and also holds a seat on the Dromana Estate board of directors, bringing twenty-five years of successful winemaking experience to the wine group. David Traeger wines are sold throughout the Australian eastern states markets and a growing export presence is being established in the UK, US, Singapore, Germany and Japan. David's aim at winemaking has always been, to produce elegant and distinctive wines through traditional methods, with the benefit of the latest technology.
The product range has deliberately been kept limited. The David Traeger Verdelho is an attractive and tantalizing dry white, showing all the hallmark characters of the Verdelho variety. The wine displays lemon, lime and tropical aromas with a touch of white peach, melon-like mouth-filling flavours, an excellent fine acid structure and a lingering, stylish finish.
"A very handy location sets you directly adjacent to the local Visitor's Information Centre which makes David Traeger a great place to make a start. The Verdelho here has been making waves for a few years and the Shiraz is a lovely soft mouthful of rich and ripe fruit!" -Sydney Morning Herald, "David Traeger learned much during his years as assistant winemaker at Mitchelton and knows Central Victoria well. The red wines are solidly crafted, the Verdelho interesting and surprisingly long-lived. In 2002 the business was acquired by the Dromana Estate group, but David Traeger has stayed on as winemaker!" -Wine Companion.com.au
David Traeger's wines are approachable upon release and reward patient cellaring. David Traeger Shiraz is a medium weight wine of concentrated fruit and attractive oak and grape tannins, balanced by an excellent natural acid level. This wine displays dark cherry and truffle-like aromas and earthy flavours which are complimented by subtle oak. Ideally allow some cellaring time.
