LOCAL vignerons paid tribute this week to prominent businessman, yachtsman and, most importantly, winemaker Bob Oatley AO, who died last Sunday morning.
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The 87-year-old made his fortune via Rosemount Estate, founding the Upper Hunter winery in 1969 and expanding it as a private company over three decades.
Rosemount went global, becoming the second-biggest selling Australian wine brand in the United States and Australia’s largest family-owned winery.
From its meagre beginnings, the estate fetched an extraordinary $1.4 billion in 2001 when Mr Oatley sold it to Southcorp Wines.
In 2006, the Oatley family returned to the wine business, opening Robert Oatley Vineyards, which operated out of NSW and Western Australia, producing boutique brands including Wild Oats and the Robert Oatley signature series.
The family also owned the historic property Edinglassie near Muswellbrook. Mr Oatley won a landmark case in the NSW Land and Environment Court to prevent the opening of Bengalla open cut mine which he considered a travesty for the district.
Then Premier Bob Carr changed the legislation allowing the mine to proceed and the Oatley family walked away from the property.
Two Rivers Wines’ Brett Keeping said Mr Oatley was a wonderful man.
“The Oatley family established the Rosemount Estate in the late 1960s,” he told the Chronicle.
“Rosemount, which originated from Denman, went on to become one of Australia’s most successful wine companies.
“And, Bob Oatley was the man behind the whole operation.
“He put the Upper Hunter and the Australian wine industry on the map, and Australian Chardonnay on the international stage.”
Mr Keeping said the Oatley family was such a pivotal part of the Denman community.
“We have a lot to thank Bob for,” he said.
“It was a very sad day for the Upper Hunter when the Oatley family left Rosemount.
“Everyone here in Denman has very fond memories of Bob and the Oatley family.
“He built Rosemount to be the most successful family-owned wine company in Australia; and employed more than 200 people at their Denman winery.
“Bob and the Rosemount brand was such a huge influence on so many people in the wine industry.”
Another prominent vigneron – and one of the pioneers of wine export – Brian McGuigan echoed Mr Keeping’s sentiments.
“Bob Oatley has been dearly missed since the selling of Rosemount Estate,” he said.
“It is a great pity to hear of his passing.
“It’s very sad as Bob had a massive impact on the Hunter and the wine industry in terms of his Rosemount Estate.
“He did a great deal for the region, for NSW and Australian wines and, indeed, internationally.”
In 2014, Mr Oatley was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the Australian wine and tourism industries [and] to the sport of yacht racing”.
Last November, Yachting Australia honoured him with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to sailing.
Mr Oatley is survived by his wife Valerie and three children Sandy, Ian and Ros.
