| Region of production: | New South Wales |
| Winery Location: | Canberra District |
| Year Established: | 1971 |
Vineyard Holdings
13 ha
- Clonakilla Vineyard; planted in 1971 to Shiraz; Viognier planted in 1986; soil is sandy clay loam over decomposed granite base; also planted to Riesling, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc
- Tim and Lara Block; planted to Shiraz and Viognier
- Euroka Park Vineyard; four acres planted to Shiraz, one acre planted to Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Shiraz Viognier (1992)
- Hilltops Syrah (2006)
Average Total Production
- 120,000 bottles
Summary
Clonakilla, meaning “meadow of the church” in Gaelic, is named after founder Dr. John Kirk’s grandfather’s farm in County Clare, Ireland. Many consider Kirk a pioneer of the modern Canberra District wine industry, having been the first producer responsible for the district’s initial commercial vintage in 1976. The winery is best known for their Shiraz Viognier, a wine that is made in a Rhône” style with an average of 5% Viognier. Prior to 1990, the Shiraz was blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in what they considered more of an Australian style. After a 1991 visit to Côte Rotie, John and his son Tim dispensed with Cabernet and began co-fermenting their Shiraz with Viognier. The bottling has been co-fermented with Viognier since the 1992 vintage. Tim took the lead as head winemaker in 1997 and expanded the estate’s planted acreage in both 1998 and 2007. In 2005, the Shiraz Viognier received the highest ranking, “Outstanding,” in Langton’s Classification of Australian wine.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Vineyard blocks are kept separate during fermentation and the final blends are made prior to bottling. The Shirazes see an average of 20% whole cluster fermentation and the wines are fermented warm by indigenous yeasts. Red wines spend an average of twelve to eighteen months maturing in French oak, with approximately one-third new.
Producer Website: Clonakilla