Jack Mann (winemaker)

Jack Mann MBE (19 March 1906 – 26 May 1989) was a winemaker in Western Australia and devised Houghton White Burgundy, a wine that became the flagship of the Western Australian wine industry. He was chief winemaker at Houghton Winery in the Swan Valley, from 1930 to 1972[1] and is considered one of the pioneers of the Western Australian wine industry.[2]

Jack Mann MBE
Born	19 March 1906 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died	26 May 1989 (aged 83) Middle Swan, Western Australia
Occupation	Winemaker
Years active	1922–1972
Employer	Houghton Wines
Known for	Houghton White Burgundy

Early life

Mann was born in Perth. His father George was a well-known brandy maker from Chateau Tanunda winery in South Australia's Barossa Valley and his mother was a member of the Sobels winemaking family.

Career

Mann started work at Houghton's with his father George in 1922.[3] He succeeded his father as chief winemaker eight years later. In the 1930s his oloroso won the first of 13 successive Australian Champion awards. In 1932 Mann introduced a butcher's mincing machine which fragmented grape skins, but not the seeds, after the stalks had been separated from the bunches. In 1936 he acquired a Seitz germ proof filter, the first to be imported into Australia, which allowed sterile filtration. The next year Chenin blanc won first prize at the Melbourne Wine Show, and Houghton White Burgundy was born.[4] During his career he won many awards for claret, burgundy, tawny port, vintage port, liqueur frontignac and liqueur hermitage. He was awarded an MBE in 1964 for services to the viticulture industry[5] and The West Australian newspaper included him in their list of Western Australia's 100 most influential people in 2006.[6]

Sport

Jack Mann was a noted cricketer and successful underarm bowler: he took over 2000 wickets in WA grade cricket including 81 in the 1927/28 season.[4] The Jack Mann Oval in Middle Swan is named for him.[7]

Personal life and family

In 1938, Mann married Angela Doolette.[4] He had three sons and a daughter. He died on 26 May 1989 at his Middle Swan home.[1]

Lamont's winery in the Swan Valley was founded by Jack's daughter and son-in-law Corin and Neil Lamont.[8] His son, Tony Mann represented Australia in four cricket test matches and was the first Australian to score a test century as a nightwatchman.[2] His son, Dorham Mann also operates a small winery at Upper Swan producing a method champenoise sparkling wine made from cabernet sauvignon grapes.

His granddaughter Kate Lamont is a noted cook and businesswoman.[9] His grandson, Robert Mann, is the Estate Director at Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley, California.[10] Robert Mann also makes wine from his family's vineyard in the Swan Valley, Western Australia under the label Corymbia.[11]

References

1. Mulcahy, Clement (2012). "Biography - Jack Mann". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
2. Daffey, Paul (22 April 2006). "Tony Mann: the first nightwatchman century maker". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
3. "Langton's - Houghton Swan Valley, Great Southern". Langtons.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
4. "Houghton Wines - Jack Mann". Retrieved 18 May 2010.
5. "Commonwealth Relations Office Honours List". Sydney Morning Herald. 1 January 1964.
6. "Western Australia's 100 most influential people". The West Australian. 9 November 2006.
7. Peter McClelland (17 April 2007). "Houghton's 70-year-old vintage". The Sunday Times.
8. "Lamont's - Wine History". Lamonts.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
9. "Cuisine Magazine NZ - In A Land Of Plenty". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
10. "Newton Vineyard". Retrieved 9 December 2017.
11. "Corymbia Wine". Retrieved 9 December 2017.