Clonakilla

Clonakilla is one of Australia's most revered wineries, a small family estate in the cool Canberra District. Founded by the Kirk family, it built its reputation on a single, ground-breaking wine, a co-fermented Shiraz Viognier that reshaped Australian winemaking. Few estates are held in higher regard. The vineyards sit at altitude in a cool, continental climate, ideal for aromatic, medium-bodied reds. Shiraz is the calling card, often co-fermented with a little Viognier in the manner of the northern Rhône. Careful, low-yield farming underpins the wines' finesse. In the cellar, restraint is everything, with whole-bunch ferments and gentle handling that preserve perfume and freshness. The wines are fragrant, spicy and beautifully balanced, more Côte-Rôtie than blockbuster. Elegance defines the house. From the iconic Shiraz Viognier to the excellent Hilltops Shiraz, Clonakilla offers cool-climate Australian reds of rare grace. Perfumed, savoury and ageworthy, they stand among the finest wines the country produces.