Robert Crabtree - Founder

Born in Surrey, England, Robert studied law at Oxford University, and was then a practising lawyer and academic in Cambridge for 12 years. He always had an interest in viticulture and making wines right from the beginning, and made fruit wines as a hobby. His curiosity in winemaking led him to complete two vintages in Bergerac, near Bordeaux in France, and then another in New Zealand, before landing in Australia and deciding that he would become a full time winemaker here.

After careful selection of possible wine regions, Robert decided that the Clare Valley was to be the region of choice. Robert and a local business partner, Rick Robertson purchased a small existing property in Watervale in 1980, and named their new partnership Watervale Cellars, whilst Robert studied winemaking at Roseworthy as a postgraduate. The partnership dissolved after 3 years, and in 1983 Robert purchased the old Flax Mill building in Auburn, about a ten minute drive from where we are now located. He equipped it as a small (and somewhat rough and ready) winery and planted two acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. With Rick no longer a partner, the business became known as Crabtree’s Watervale Cellars for a number of years. Robert subsequently purchased the house and winery site of what is now the home of Crabtree Watervale Wines in 1985.

Robert built an enviable reputation for fine classic Watervale wines over the following 27 years and became a passionate advocate for the Clare Valley and South Australian wine industry. Robert sold his beloved property and winery in 2007 but remains a welcome friend and advisor to the new Crabtree Crew.

“We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants……”

Bernard of Chartres