1984
Jim and Helen Watts purchased a 32 hectare Malpas Road property between McLaren Vale and Willunga. The land had previously been used for the cropping of barley and the grazing of sheep.
1985
Jim and Helen’s son, Paul Watts, planted the first Chardonnay vines on the property. In later years, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were planted using modern trellising techniques to maximize fruit quality, mostly Scott Henry or vertical shoot positioning.
1986 – 88
Sparky Marquis studies Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College graduating as Gold Medallist, Dux of the course.
1987 – 89
Sarah, Jim and Helen’s daughter, studied Oenology at Roseworthy and meets Sparky! They were married in 1991.
1994
The first potential batch of wine for Fox Creek label was made. These were a Chardonnay and a Shiraz.
1995
More wine was made including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Shiraz, Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc
August 1995
First bottling of wines for Fox Creek – a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdelho and Sauvignon Blanc.
Oct 25 1995
Fox Creek Wines received its producers license. At this time, the Fox Creek Wine Company was formed consisting of three vineyards in the McLaren Vale area. Fox Creek owned by Helen & Jim Watts, Malpas Ridge owned by Lyn & John Roberts and Koona Vineyards owned by Helen & Peter McDonald, Alison & Malcolm Mackinnon, Helen and Paul Watts. The male partners were all specialist medical practitioners who had been colleagues at Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre.
Oct 26 1995
McLaren Vale Bushing King & Queen trophy for the best wine made from McLaren Vale fruit was awarded to Fox Creek winemakers, Sarah & Sparky Marquis, for their 1994 Shiraz. In the years leading up to this award Sarah & Sparky gained winemaking experience from around the world, in France, United States, Portugal, Japan, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia.
December 1995
Sarah & Sparky became full time winemakers for Fox Creek.
June 1996
Sparky is awarded the Light Award for South Australian Winemaker of the year.
July 1996
Runner up for the Best Shiraz Trophy and Peoples Choice Award for Best Red wine in the show at Boutique Wines of Australia.
October 1996
The official opening of cellar door in the original James Stanley Malpas cottage on the Fox Creek property by Dr Max Lake from Lakes Folly, Hunter Valley, NSW.
Release of New Wines for 1996 including Vixen Sparkling Cabernets/Shiraz.
1997
The first export of Fox Creek Wines, a 1996 Unwooded Chardonnay to California.
Fox Creek's first web site goes live.
June 1997
"Vixen" Sparkling Burgundy is voted best new release Sparkling Burgundy in WineState magazine. "Vixen" used to open National Sparkling Red Day.
1996 Reserve Shiraz picks up its first two trophies at Boutique Wines of Australia.
It received the Best Shiraz Trophy and the Peoples Choice: Best Red in the Show Award. It was also given a Gold Medal by all three judges.
Fox Creek received many awards for its red wines and its 1996 Reserve Shiraz was voted the Shiraz of the year in the Penguin Wine Guide. The Company was also voted " New Winery of the Year" and the 1997 Verdelho was awarded the ‘White Varietal of the Year’ by Vogue Entertaining.
All three 1996 vintage red wines were included in the Top 100 wines in the 1997 Sydney International Wine Show. These three wines were all awarded Gold Medals at the National Wine Shows.
August 1997
1996 Reserve Shiraz was judged in the final taste off for the 1997 Jimmy Watson trophy after being awarded a Gold Medal at the Melbourne Wine Show.1996 Reserve Shiraz was voted No. 1 & 1996 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon voted No. 10 in Philip White’s ‘Top 100 Wines of Australia. Fox Creek Wines are now marketed in South Australia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.
1998
The 1997 Reserve Shiraz was awarded the People’s Choice Trophy "Wine of the Show" at the Boutique Wines of Australia Exhibition of Sydney.
Fox Creek Web Site gets its own domain name www.foxcreekwines.com
August 1998
The Vixen- Sparkling Cabernets/ Shiraz, is voted the best sparkling red at the Hyatt/ Advertiser South Australian Wine of the Year Awards.
September 1998
The 1997 Fox Creek Merlot is released. It is the first Merlot off the first crop from vines grown on the Malpas Ridge property. Two weeks later it wins a trophy for best Merlot at the Adelaide Wine Show.
October 1998
The 1996 Reserve Shiraz is voted fifth equal in the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge for 1998. The 1997 comes in at number 20, and is the highest ranking 1997 Shiraz in the competition.
Fox Creek wins the Bushing Trophy again! This time it’s the 1997 JSM Shiraz/ Cabernet which is voted the best wine in the McLaren Vale district for 1998.
Sparky & Sarah are crowned for the second time in three years, and Sarah becomes the only ‘queen’ to win the award twice.
All current release red wines are now trophy winners. Fox Creek Wines are distributed nationally and are now exported to the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore.
May 1999
In 1999 a new Thermomass barrel store and 1,000 tonne winery was under construction on the Fox Creek Vineyard property on Malpas Road, approximately half a kilometre to the South West of Cellar Door.
June 1999
Daniel Hills was appointed winemaker and Winery Manager and Tony Walker a winemaker.
February 2000
The winery went into production with the start of the 2000 vintage.
June 2000
Fox Creek Web Site begins taking orders on-line.
July 2001
A new Dry Goods storage facility goes into operation at the Fox Creek Administration and Winery facility.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Chardonnay 2006
Appearance: Pale straw with vibrant green tints.
Bouquet: Lifted lime, citrus blossom and lemongrass aromas with subtle nutty oak undertones to the fruit driven bouquet.
Palate: Soft rich palate shows white peach and honeydew melon flavours, framed with a generous creamy texture from barrel fermentation and maturation on yeast lees. ... more
BN#224924
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Duet Cabernet Merlot 2005
Appearance: Vibrant plum colour with cherry rim.
Bouquet: Lifted roasted nuts, complex toasty & charry oak with lifted blackcurrant and a hint of chocolate and earthiness.
Palate: A very soft sweet cassis berry flavoured entry with sweet blackcurrant mid palate and balanced ripe tannins. A rich, ripe, soft and complex ... more
BN#224917
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 2004
 
Appearance: Intense vibrant purple, black colour.
Bouquet: Lifted complex aromas of berry, cherry, blackcurrant fruit, chocolate and mocha with subtle integrated oak complexity of vanilla and cigar box.
Palate: The palate has lashings of fruitcake, rum & raison and chocolate. The structure is very rich, thick and concentrated with a ... more
BN#224918
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Appearance: Pale green straw colour.
Bouquet: Lifted herbaceous cut grass, green capsicum and asparagus.
Palate: Our Sauvignon Blanc shows its best characters as a rich, round wine and this is a wonderful example of that style. There is a clean entry with a textural palate showing capsicum and tropical gooseberry ... more
BN#224921
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Shadow's Run Chardonnay 2006
Appearance: Pale gold with green hues.
Bouquet: Vibrant lifted white peach, kiwi fruit and golden pineapple.
Palate: Soft, rich and full mouthfeel showing golden peach, ripe pear, honeydew melon and banana flavours all drawn together by a crisp zesty citrus finish. more
BN#224915
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Shadow's Run Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Appearance: Vibrant plum red with dark cherry rim.
Bouquet: Lifted spice with a hint of leaf, dark berry, savoury spices and sweet vanillin oak from barrel maturation.
Palate: Entry is rich and spicy with ripe raspberry and dark chocolate flavours on the smooth mid palate, leading to a soft luscious ... more
BN#224914
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2005
Deep red with a vibrant plum rim.
Lifted rich aromas of blueberry and blackberry with dark cherry and vanillin spice from subtle oak maturation.
A generous soft and rich entry of complex berry fruits leading to a full, spicy palate of dark berries, a soft tannin structure with excellent length ... more
BN#224916
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fox Creek Vixen Sparkling Shiraz
Appearance: Vibrant plum with fine sparkling bead. Bouquet: Lifted black cherry, dark chocolate, musk & mocha. Palate: A powerful wine rich and soft in texture. The silky palate oozes sweet mixed berry conserve, ârum and raisinâ, white chocolate and spicy vanillin oak finished with a balanced explosion of spice, crisp ... more
BN#132688
|
|
|
|
|
|
