The name Chalmers has long been associated with the wine industry, especially at the avant-garde, the cutting edge of viticulture in Australia.

Bruce and Jenni Chalmers established their grapevine propagation business, Chalmers Nurseries (www.chalmersnurseries.com), in 1989.  Beginning with a handful of small orders for grafted vines Chalmers implemented a program of research and development, refining vine propagation, production and processing techniques to build the first ‘Australian Standards’ quality assured and largest wholesale vine nursery in Australia.

Until the nursery was sold in 2008 the Chalmers’ had supplied millions of vines to vignerons, both large and small, all over Australia.  Simultaneously they developed revolutionary ideas and conducted extensive innovative work on perfecting vineyard establishment, operations and infrastructure to achieve both environmental sustainability and quality.

Bruce Chalmers has been intrinsically involved in the alternative variety movement in Australia working through Chalmers Nurseries on importing propagation material but also at the other end of the business, marketing and education. In 1998, along with celebrity chef and Murray ambassador Stefano de Pieri and Italian-Australian Viticulturist Dr Rod Bonfiglioli, Chalmers initiated the Sangiovese Awards that evolved into the Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show (www.aavws.com), held each November in Mildura, now the most important forum for non-mainstream wine in Australia.

The collaboration between Chalmers and Bonfiglioli also lead to the Chalmers Nurseries importation project in conjunction with Italian viticultural companies Vivai Cooperativi Raucedo (www.vivairauscedo.com) and Gruppo Matura (www.matura.net).  Through establishing this relationship Chalmers gained access to hundreds of European grape vine varieties and clones, some entirely new to Australia and some new clones of varieties already existing here.  The final selection of around 70 clones and varieties was introduced to Australia in 2000 and has been a major factor in the diversification and improvements in quality seen in the Australian wine industry in the last decade.

The inherited family interest in the new and different lead composer/musician daughter Kim to Europe where she not only fell in love with Italian art, language and culture but discovered the fascinating world of Italian wine.  Since her return to Australia, Kim has been working with Bruce and Jenni toward discovering varieties, and experimenting with clones, which suit the Chalmers vineyard’s viticultural conditions and have the ability to produce distinctive, quality wines.

The youngest of the Chalmers clan, daughter Tennille is also in the industry.  She has been developing her knowledge and passion for wine over the last few years while working as a sommelier in Melbourne’s most respected restaurants.  Tennille is also a member of the Melbourne sales team for the Chalmers family wine label.