Description
About Rosily Vineyard
The Rosily Vineyard is found in the heart of the Wilyabrup sub region, which is close to the coast and of a central to slightly northern latitude within the Margaret River wine region. All of Rosily’s wines are produced using fruit grown on the 12ha vineyard, which is planted on specifically chosen parcels of land within the 32ha Willyabrup property.
From the strong and structured Cabernet grown in the challenging top-of-hill gravels, to the full and fruity Semillon grown in the rich alluvial soils close to a gentle brook; our grapes are grown on unique parcels of soil, in a unique part of the world – and this is reflected in the quality of our wines.
The first vines were propergated at Rosily in 1994, using cuttings from the nearby Moss Wood vineyard. The rootlings were then planted out into the vineyard in 1995 and 1996(Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc), and 1997 (Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet Franc). Later on in 2001 a small block of Petit Verdot was added, and then some extra Semillon in 2009.
Rosily was an ensign on the ‘Gros Ventre’ commanded by Louis de St. Alouarn in 1772. He had started the voyage on the Gros Ventre’s sister ship, the ‘Fortune’ commanded by Yves Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec, but had become separated whilst undertaking a survey of the newly discovered Kerguelen Island. Due to bad weather, Kergeulen turned back to Mauritius, abandoning the unfortunate Rosily and his crew, who were luckily rescued later by Louis de St. Alouarn.
The ‘Gros Ventre’ continued east until it encountered the south west coast of Australia at Cape Leeuwin, where Rosily made the first, but very accurate survey of Flinders Bay.
They then sailed north to Shark Bay where Rosily made another accurate map of that section of the coast. Rosily’s map showed the location on Dirk Hartog Island where two bottles with charts sealed with a silver French coin and a lead seal were buried. This document was used more than 200 years later, to find the bottle and coin left by Rosily’s party in March 1772. It was here, at Dirk Hartog Island, that St. Alouarn formally annexed Western Australia for France.
