SINCE establishing Michelini's vineyard in the Buckland Valley during the spring of 1982, Emo Michelini and his two sons Ilario and Dino began preserving over a century of tradition originating in the Trentino Italian Alps. Emo Michelini was only 25 years old when he arrived in Sydney in 1949 with his young wife Olga on a maiden voyage from Genoa. After making small goods for a local butcher in Redfern for two years, Emo journeyed south to meet his uncle who lived in Myrtleford. It was here that he began sharefarming with several other Italian families in the Ovens Valley. Eventually he was able to purchase his own land and plant the first vines. In 1982, Emo acquired some varietal cuttings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot from Orlando, Wyndham in South Australia. With most of the vineyard enjoying river frontage and with lime added to the soil to sweeten it, the fresh mountain air and the alpine climate provide the ideal conditions to produce premium wines.