Ed Schild
Founder and Chairman, Schild Estate Wines
Ed Schild’s father established a small mixed farm including vineyard in Rowland Flat in the early 1950′s, after moving from Lameroo in the Mallee of South Australia. Ed Schild took the reins in 1956 at the young age of 16, after his father passed away.
He steadily increased the vineyard holdings, through some of the most depressed times in local viticulture, including the infamous 80’s where many of the Barossa’s oldest vines were depleted through the “Vine Pull” scheme, to what today comprises approximately 400 acres.
Ed has become a ‘local hero’ and has certainly involved himself within the Barossa community; Director of Barossa Infrastructure Limited Water Board, Chairman of Rowland Flat Lutheran Church, Committee Member of Lyndoch/Williamstown SA Liberal party, and member of Rowland Flat Agriculture Bureau.
Ed has also been recognised for his personal achievements in viticulture by being honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Vigneron of the Year award, presented by the fraternity of the Barons of the Barossa in 1995.
2011 was a year to celebrate as Ed turned 70! He now has 7 vintages of ancient vine Shiraz under the Moorooroo label as well and has cellar door being open for its 11th year. Visitors are often lucky to find Ed pottering around cellar door or the winery. He is now enjoying many years of hard work by disappearing with wife Lorraine to travel around the country in their caravan catching yabbies and leaving his children in charge of the business.
Judy Watson (nee Schild)
Financial Manger
The better half of the financial team at Schild Estate or is that just a given because I’m Ed’s daughter, I wonder!! Some people would say that life is serious when working in administration, but you couldn’t say that about us! Sandra and I are known as the clucking hen’s, we have a laugh and try to bring a smile to everyone’s face who has the courage to enter the finance department each day. Stirring the pot is part of the hen’s mess!
Leanne Chapman (nee Schild)
Export and Logistics Co-ordinator
Growing up as the middle child of Ed and Lorraine’s kids I was happy to fit in. Dad would offer us a day off from school to help in the vineyard or pick grapes and the best part of that was sitting down with the rest of the crew after a long hard day and enjoy a glass of “Hock Lime and Lemonade” ….. Today my involvement in the family business is much more subdued and I spend my days in the office ensuring the Schild label gets to its destinations around the globe on time. Married with 2 beautiful children and we all love to escape to the shack as often as possible. As for football I’m with the Chardonnay set – the Crows… Love the crows and a chardy!
Michael Schild (Mick)
Chief Viticulturist
My story at SEW started at a very early age. Following in my dad’s footsteps and coming home from school to see if he was pruning, shifting soaker hoses, tractor driving or picking grapes. I was about 15 when I left school to follow this vineyard interest a little further. Once we bought a grape harvester, the work really began… it was then that dad started to buy more vineyards….and so on it went. Later I met my wife and we have three little darlings, whom are all keen to follow in dads interests… they had no choice, they grew up in the vineyard like me.
Micks Tip: You have to love what you do, if you do every day will fly by, especially if you love the final product as much as I do… and I love wine, and all that Schild Estate has grown to be!
