Clonakilla, established by Irish research scientist John Kirk in 1971, is a distinguished family-owned winery in the Canberra District of Australia. John, inspired by his European wine heritage and the promising local terroir, planted the first vineyard with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Shiraz, and more.
While Clonakilla has always made a range of high-quality wines, it is the Shiraz Viognier more than any other that has established Clonakilla’s reputation as one of Australia’s great family wineries. This iconic blend was pioneered by John’s son, Tim Kirk, after a transformative visit to Northern Rhone in 1991.
The Kirk family remain very much at the heart the winery’s operations, with Tim as the Chief Winemaker and his brother Stephen as CEO. Their dedication is complemented by the involvement of third-generation Kirk family members. The family’s commitment to excellence ensures Clonakilla remains a beacon of quality and tradition in Australian winemaking, overseen by a family board led by John’s eldest son, Kiaran.
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