Diary of a Vintage
Melbourne, Lyre Bird Press, 1981. Adams, Tate. Diary of a Vintage: the work cycle of the year 1979 at Wynns Coonawarra Estate. Lyre Bird Press: Melbourne, 1981. 4to (210x210mm) burgundy silk gilt dec bds in slipcase xvi,42,[2]pp. (introduction by David Wynn) (signed #49/375) Fine/Fine Tate Adams AM was an Australian print-maker and engraver. Widely regarded as the 'Godfather' of contemporary Australian printmaking, Tate taught printmaking to many of Australia's greatest print-makers, established print specialist galleries and founded and supported Lyre Bird Press to print high calibre printed works. Wynns Coonawarra Estate is a famed winery in the township of Coonawarra, South Australia. Coonawarra is region that has a singular story based on a unique cigar-shaped strip of terra rossa soil over limestone. Established as a 'fruit colony' in the 1880s, the region provided grapes for many of the great wines of the early 20th century. After a long period of significant decline, the region became known for quality wine again after David Wynn established Wynns Coonawarra Estate in 1951. Through the second half of the 20th century Coonawarra, and particularly Coonawarra Cabernet, was one of the most sought after wines and wine regions in Australia. Older vintages of Wynns 'Black Label' and 'Red Stripe' hold a special place in Australian wine lovers' cellars and hearts.
Second-hand hardcover
ADAMS, Tate (1922-2018)
Diary of a Vintage: the work cycle of the year 1979 at Wynns Coonawarra Estate in South Australia - depicted in twenty-six wood engravings and text by Tate Adams - with an introduction by David Wynn.
Melbourne : Lyre Bird Press, September 1981. First and only edition. Signed in the plate, Limited #35 of 375 signed and numbered copies. Introduction by David Wynn.
Small quarto (210x210mm) burgundy silk cloth, gilt lettered boards in matching slipcase; xvi,42,[2]pp. Slight and small blemish to the slipcase recto, else fine. All the illustrations in this book were engraved in boxwood by the artist and the edition printed directly from the artist's blocks, thus making all the illustrations artist's original prints.
Over the years David Wynn engaged a number of artists and writers such as Tate Adams and Walter James to record and celebrate the Coonawarra region and Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
An excellent copy and a significant work in the canon of Australian wine literature and art.
§ OCLC only records 5 copies outside of Australia; 4 in the USA, Sonoma, UCLA, Penn State and Carleton
§ Gabler G7040.
Item #0949844017-03
Price: $475.00 AUD