Since his childhood Greg Bishop has spent every Christmas Day serving up a traditional lunch to close to 300 people.
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It started in the 1960's after his father Colin Bishop acquired the historic Shoalhaven Heads property first settled by Alexander Berry in 1822 and restored the original buildings as holiday accommodation.
The property was still being used as a dairy farm when the annual Coolangatta Estate Christmas Day lunch began to ensure guests did not miss out on a traditional style meal.
But with anyone able to book it soon sold out every year and every year provides work for up to 20 people who join the Bishop family.
The staff at Coolangatta Estate are part of what is known in-house as the Cooly family and many employees put up their hand each year to be part of what has become an annual tradition.
With the advent of the first harvest 30 years ago the property has gone on to become one of the most awarded vineyards in Australia.
Which means guests get to eat a traditional Christmas lunch with estate grown wines.
The first year I started helping in the scullery washing dishes. I've been helping out ever since. We don't know anything else on Christmas Day
- Greg Bishop
Mr Bishop said he was seven when he helped his father with the first lunch and has shared the meal with hundreds of people ever since.
"We had a couple of years off when the place was leased for a couple of seasons," he said.
"The first year I started helping in the scullery washing dishes. I've been helping out ever since. We don't know anything else on Christmas Day.
"It was started for our house guests. But it quickly grew and now it is hard to get in if you don't book early because it attracts such big numbers".
To this day Mr Bishop and his wife Eileen help out behind the scenes every year while their experienced team deliver a four course Christmas meal to around 280 people.
For those fortunate enough to dine on local festive food accompanied by award winning wine, it takes all the preparation and work out of preparing a Christmas lunch.
They can just relax and let someone else do the work and clean up afterwards.
Wednesday's annual lunch was also a chance to celebrate another successful year for the vineyard.
Not only did 2019 mark its 30th vintage Coolangatta Estate won Australia's only trophy in the Six Nations Wine Challenge but during the year it notched up its 2000th wine award.
Read more:
- How some of the best wines in Australia are being made on the NSW South Coast
- 30 years of wine celebrated at Coolangatta Estate
- Australia's Semillon of the Year produced from grapes grown locally at Shoalhaven Heads
- The man who saved an important piece of Australian history on the South Coast remembered for his great legacy
- The Bishop family is preparing to mark 30 years of wine production in the Shoalhaven with a public tasting event in one of the oldest buildings in NSW
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
