Tahbilk

Tahbilk is an Australian winery located 120km north of Melbourne between the townships of Seymour and Nagambie in the Nagambie Lakes region of Central Victoria. It was established in 1860, and claims to be the oldest family-owned winery in Victoria. The winery is part of Australia's First Families of Wine, a prominent Australian wine alliance.HistoryIn 1856, Hugh Glass became the owner of the Goulburn River property that included the future Tahbilk. Rushworth storekeeper Ludovic Marie convinced Glass the land was suitable for viticulture and took over 258acres of the property for a proposed vineyard and winery. Marie engaged his friend Richard Henry Horne, who had invested in blocks of land at nearby Murchison on the Goulburn River. Horne was eager to "promote any venture which might bring prosperity to the district" and agreed to participate in the winery plan. The two set up a public company, the Goulburn Vineyard Proprietary, with Marie as manager and Horne as honorary secretary.In 1859, the company advertised for capital of £30,000 in £5 shares. Its provisional committee comprised Horne, J.G. Dougharty of Melbourne and N.R.D. Bond and A. Sinclair of Murchison. The advertisement said:The position of the land, the quality of the soil, the proximity of the water, make the property the most desirable spot which could be selected for vine growing. The quantity of grapes produced by the few stocks of vine in the garden and at the house, is an indubitable proof of the capabilities of the ground.