Vintage Teas - The Tradition Continues
29 March 2011
A tradition that can be traced back to the 1970's prior to the PLW days is providing current winery workers with a chance to eat a hearty meal at the end of their day - 'vintage teas', as they are known.
Vintage teas began in 1976 at Saltram when PL's wife Margaret Lehmann realised that due to vintage demands the extended cellar crew didn't always have the opportunity to eat a nutritionally complete meal during their hard yakka. As a result, Margaret provided a meal usually cooked on the premises and served to the hungry team from the cellar.
This idea continued with the forming of Peter Lehmann Wines 30-plus years ago - when Margaret enlisted the assistance of Wig's wife, Wendy - and she is still an important part of vintage to this day. Every weeknight a group of volunteers (co-ordinated by PLW's Administration Manager Jeanette Kruger), usually made up of wives, partners, or mothers of the cellar crew - along with the members of PLW staff - provide a much deserved hot 'home cooked' meal.
Whilst it is now common-place for wineries to provide sustenance for their cellar team during vintage these days, we believe that this coordinated five-night-a-week cooked on site meal still remains unique. What other winery provides such freshly cooked delights as Mick Anderson's Spaghetti Bolognese, Tania Brown's Green Chicken Curry, Aileen Proudfoot's Egg & Bacon Pies, or the tradional Friday Night Steak Sandwiches? And all the while, Wendy Wigan continues to be a driving force with the preparation of many of these meals, ensuring all have their share of vegetables, so that the cellar staff are nutritionally equipped to survive the 'vintage' at Peter Lehmann Wines!
