 Based at the entrance to the beautiful Tamar Vallery wine region, Velo Wines was originally named Chateua Legana and is home to Tasmania's oldest cabernet sauvignon vines. The historic vineyard was planted in 1966 by Graham Wiltshire, a renowned pioneer of the Tasmanian wine industry. In 2001 the vineyard was purchased by Michael Wilson, a former Olympic and Tasmania's only two time Tour de France participant. He renamed the vineyard Velo which means bicycle in French. Michael a viticulturist, winemaker and associate wine judge. The small family operated vineyard is an example of how old ans new worlds meld, while retaining traditional methods of harvesting and winemaking, their contemporary image reflects the vibrant flavours, energy and passion behind their wine.
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Fourty-one years ago a Launceston businessman named Graham Wiltshire described his venture into the wine industry as "A hobby that got out of hand". He is now described as one of four great pioneers of the Tasmanian wine industry. From the humble beginnings of his pilot vineyard in Legana, which he named' Chateau Legana' and then 'Heemskerk', he built a name for producing excellent cabernet sauvignon.The 1976,77 & 78 cabernet won gold and silver medals at the Royal Hobart wine shows and it became a collectors item for interstate wine buffs.In 1980 a leading Sydney wine expert named the Tasmanian cabernet sauvignon as one of the best two Australian wines of the year, and it was marketed mainly to interstate restaurants. In 1982 the Heemskerk Cabernet Sauvignon came within half a point of winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy.From this tiny pilot vineyard in Legana Graham Wiltshire went on to create Heemskerk Wines at Pipers Brook, a wine empire that sold to five different countries around the globe, and ended with one of the worlds oldest leading champagne houses' Louis Roederer' investing as a partner.Graham had actually sold champagne back to the french! |
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 Twenty-four years ago my husband and I set off on the adventure of a life-time. Two young Tasmanians with the world at our feet, and an all consuming passion to succeed.
Micheal was a local cycling hero who had just returned from the olympics in Moscow when we met and fell madly in love. When an opportunity arose for Micheal to race in Italy as a professional the following year we knew we had to go.I was 19 and Micheal 21. We packed in our jobs, sold our cars , and said good bye to family and friends. Our adventure took us to live in Italy and France where Micheal was contracted to ride on the prestigious european road circuit. Ten years of endless summers followed.Micheal’s career soared after winning a stage in the Tour of Italy in his first year as a professional, he went on to win stages in 3 of the top 4 major tours in the world.The Tour du France being the only one to elude him, he placed 3rd in a stage at Pau.
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