A look back across four generations of grape growers.
Grape growing has been part of the Pfeiffer family way of life for four generations, beginning with Albert Heinrich Pfeiffer, who owned a vineyard in the Riverland region of South Australia. Albert would spend many hours in the vines with his son Hubert, working the vineyard in bare feet with his faithful Clydesdale, Bloss, before harvesting the grapes and selling them to local producers.
Hubert Irving Pfeiffer soon followed in his father’s footsteps moving his family to a vineyard in Loxton. Hubert enjoyed wandering through the vines with his son Martin, and training both the vines and his young pupil, just as his father before him.
1982
Martin & Sally purchase Whistler’s Heysen Estate property. Initially, the land was used for crop & sheep farming, while Martin ran Penfold’s vineyards. Over the next 15 years 3000 trees were hand planted by the family, designating the future vineyard blocks.
1994
Shiraz cuttings from the famous Penfolds ‘Grange’ vineyard (the Kalimna 3C clone) are planted, followed by Semillion a few years later.
1997
The first Whistler Shiraz off the Heysen Estate vineyard goes to bottle and the Whistler Wines dream begins.
2000's
Whistler Wines gains recognition after winning multiple awards including “Best White Wine in Show” for the 2000 Estate Semillon at the Barossa Wine Show and “World’s Top 10 Shiraz” for the 2006 Estate Shiraz from Winestate Awards in 2009.
2013
The “Next Gen” get involved and introduce organic and biodynamic practices in the Heysen Estate Vineyards.
2020
Whistler Wines is named “Best Small Cellar Door” in the Barossa Valley by GT Wine Magazine. Martin & Sally retire as son Sam Pfeiffer with his wife Kelsey take on the business.
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