Romancing the Vines

Ken and his late wife Susan planted the vineyards in 2007 after acquiring the Rotherwood Estate in 2004.  After many decades in the global entertainment industry they decided they wanted another challenge, this time in a very different industry. Pinot Noir had always been a passion for them both. And here was the chance to not just critique but to create.

Sadly Susan passed away in 2014 after a long battle with breast cancer. In 2016 Ken asked Swanes Nurseries to create a rose to commemorate her life. The Susan Cooper rose is featured on the Home Page. The Cooper Family donate $10 for every Susan Cooper rose sold to the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Interestingly, roses share a genus relationship with grapes and are equally vulnerable to phylloxera aphids that once decimated vineyards worldwide. However, the discovery of a naturally resilient rootstock, which was later grafted to other vines, allowed vineyards to once more survive and thrive.

The romance of Rotherwood did likewise and once more worked its magic, and in 2019 Ken married Katrina Hill, who had her own vineyard in the Southern Highlands. Katrina brought light and laughter back to Rotherwood. We are fortunate indeed that we can call this wonderful, romantic property Home.

The property gets into full swing when the Cooper children and grandchildren visit regularly. Our newest addition to the Cooper family is our lovely granddaughter, Florence and our 2021 Pinot Gris which is just as lovely was named after her arrival. 
Since those first grapes were planted in 2007, Rotherwood has diversified and delivered on its promise of excellence and variety and now have over eight different varieties that all carry the same values of Rotherwood – to inspire shared moments over high quality wines with those we love.