Richard and Florence Statham moved to what is now "Rosnay" in 1995, after spending almost a year travelling around south-east Australia in search for the ideal site for a new vineyard. As former woolgrowers, they had nearly two decades of farming experience to tell them the importance of good advice and correct site selection before taking on such a huge new project. Their farm in northern NSW had been drought stricken for more than half the time, the rest of which stricken by poor wool prices. Wth the help of Peter Hedberg of Orange Agricultural college, they found the picturesque, gently north sloping and well drained soils of Rosnay, just 8km south-west of Canowindra on the Belubula River, in the Cowra Wine Region, south of Orange.

Their oldest son, Sam, joined them in 1997, after studying a geography degree in France, working on organic farms in New Zealand and for the Department of Land and Water Conservation in Cowra. Sam, Richard and Florence embarked on a journey of discovery which led them to decide to undertake the whole project under organic principles. The first vines, planted as commercial rootlings in September 1997, were organic and biodynamic from Day One. They were the original Chardonnay and Shiraz blocks, totalling 7.5hectares, painstaking planted with compost, lime, rock dust, and straw mulch. In 1998 they planted a further 8 hectares of Merlot, Semillon and Cabernet, using cuttings from local vineyards and from elite South Australian stocks. In 2000 they planted the final 4 hectares of Shiraz using rootlings grown on Rosnay. For the next three years they continued to plant more vineyards organically under contract to other growers who now form part of Rivers Road Organic Farms.

The vineyards are planted a range of soil types, which were tested in detail and mapped from a total of 140 test pits. The sandy hilltop soils allow the Shiraz to send roots deep into the granite bedrock from whence the best flavours and drought resistance are derived. The Semillon was planted on even sandier soils to control its vigour. However, vigour turned out not to be a problem under organic management - only when overwatered and overfertilised on industrial estates is the vigour too high. Under a careful watering regime, the Semillon is gradually sending its notriously shallow roots down deep and developing drought resistance and fruit character. The moderately vigorous Merlot and Chardonnay vines were planted on the best free draining red clay soils, and this was a good choice. Both varieties are difficult to grow organically and lack vigour, but are also susceptible to disease if planted on heavy and rich soils. Lastly, the Cabernet was planted lower down the hill because it is the most immune to frost, due to its lateness. Only once, in 2002, was the Cabernet wiped out by late frost - touch wood!

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