JOHN DESIRE FERAUD

Feraud's Wines Bottles

Back in the 1880's Frenchman Jean Desire Feraud was making wine near Alexandra. Feraud was originally a goldminer who struck it lucky at a spot now known as Frenchman's Point on the west bank of the Clutha River just south of Alexandra.

He bought up 100 acres of land and set about planting thousands of trees, plants, vines and herbs in his orchard and vineyard. By 1870 had more than 1200 vines producing fruit, and the wines he produced in the stone winery at Monte Christo were sold locally. He even exhibited wine in Sydney gaining a third class merit. Feraud however was trying to sell fine wine in a young country of beer drinkers where sheep and cattle farming prevailed. Feraud sold the property in 1882 and moved on to Dunedin; in 1889 James Bodkin bought Monte Christo, and the property and old winery remains in the Bodkin family to this day. Two blue glass bottles from the winery are exhibited in the Clyde Museum.

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