Murrumbateman, NSW

Clonakilla is one of the earliest wine estates in the Murrumbateman region of New South Wales…just down the road from Helm.
Originally planted by John Kirk in 1971 and now managed by his son Tim. Tim has really made a name for himself…Gourmet Traveller’s “Wine Maker of the Year”, Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier now sits in Langton’s Classification as “Outstanding” and a range of wines most envied by his peers.

James Halliday describes the winery “The indefatigable Tim Kirk, with an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge, is the winemaker and manager of this family winery founded by his father, scientist Dr John Kirk. It is not at all surprising that the quality of the wines is exceptional, especially the Shiraz Viognier, which has paved the way for numerous others, but remains the icon. Demand for the wines outstrips supply, even with the 1998 acquisition of an adjoining 20ha property by Tim and wife Lara Kirk, planted to shiraz and viognier; the first Hilltops Shiraz being made in 2000, from the best vineyards; the 2007 purchase by the Kirk family of another adjoining property, and the planting of another 1.8ha of shiraz, plus 0.4ha of grenache, mourvedre and cinsaut; and in the same year, the first vintage of O’Riada Shiraz.”
We are excited to have access to Clonakilla wines now and the Hilltops Shiraz is one of my favourites so tuck in.