As the Pratten family planted the original vines back in 1974 around Capel River, the region's waterfowl species constantly surrounded them, reminding them of their presence.
The Capel River, adjacent to Capel Vale winery, is home to many species of waterfowl, including the protected Sheldrake - or native Mountain Duck. When the Pratten family originally planted the vines in 1974, the waterfowl constantly surrounded them, reminding them of their presence while they worked.
The banks of the Capel River were deliberately untouched by the Pratten family to allow the waterfowl to maintain their natural habitat and they can still be seen today, squawking merrily along their way!
Waterfowl are social animals and adopt those around them as family and flock. In choosing this space to create Capel Vale wines, the Pratten family knew that the original family of Sheldrakes had to symbolise what Capel Vale was all about. For almost four decades, the quacking of generations of Sheldrakes have reminded the Prattens and all those that visit Capel Vale, that they are part of something special.