Site 13: The Madonna of the Vines

This stunning statue, crafted by Adelaide artist Andrew Parrish, was presented to Brother John May on his 65th birthday in 1994. The statue depicts the Madonna walking amongst the vines, blessing them to ensure a bountiful harvest and good wines.

Since 1851, the Jesuits have been the continuous owners of Sevenhill Cellars. Over the years, seven Jesuit winemakers have served the property, with Brother John May being the seventh and final, serving as winemaker and manager until his retirement in 2003.

Born in Sydney in 1929, Brother John May began his association with Sevenhill in 1963 when he joined Brother John Hanlon for seven years, working in both the winery and vineyards.  Upon Brother Hanlon’s sudden passing in 1972, aged only 53 years, Brother May wrote to the Jesuit Provincial to advocate for the continuation of the Cellars.  At the time there was no one trained in the art of winemaking; however, Brother May was strong in his belief that given the opportunity, he could take on the role of manager and winemaker. He returned to the site in 1972 to ensure the continuation winemaking and Sevenhill’s rich history.

Brother John credits legendary Clare Valley Winemakers for their assistance in helping him run the Cellars during his early years here. In an interview with Rob Linn in 2002 (State Library of South Australia), he talks about his early days:

            “So, when I returned to Sevenhill in ’72, as I say, I became winemaker overnight.  In those early years the people that helped me most were Jim Barry, Mick Knappstein and Tim Knappstein, because I didn’t know much about sulphurs or free sulphurs… I used to get wine samples, take them into Tim, and he’d ring me up and tell me how much sulphur I had to put in it.”

Upon his retirement from winemaking in 2003, Brother John’s stewardship is distinguished by Sevenhill’s reputation for producing quality table wines, and he played a key role in the growth of its cellar door and the recognition of Sevenhill as an important site for both its religious and historical significance. 

Brother John’s impact extended far beyond Sevenhill. His profound commitment to the region’s vitality and tourism footprint has left an inspiring legacy. In the mid-1970s, Brother John was the founding member of the Clare Valley Vine Improvement Society, the first such group in Australia. He assisted them to establish a shed and facilities to operate from on the Sevenhill site.

With four others, he started the Clare Valley Tourist Association in 1983 and was the inaugural President for three years.  He continued his community work with seats on the Clare Valley Winemakers’ Association, Landcare organisation, SA Winemakers Association and the Mid North Tourist Association.  John held strong beliefs that there was opportunity for wineries and the tourism industry to be working hand in hand.

His contributions to Sevenhill and the wider industry earned him several honours, including an Order of Australia Medal, a South Australian Great Tourism Award, Jubilee Medal from the Australian Jesuits, life membership of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, and he was an inaugural inductee into the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association’s Hall of Fame.

Since 2004, Sevenhill has produced a label in honour of Brother John’s contribution, crafted from only the finest vintages to preserve his legacy.

Br John May SJ died in Sydney on 18 August 2021, eight days before his 92^nd birthday. We owe much of our continued success and legacy to Brother John.

Brother John May, S. J. AM, ‘A Man for Others’.