Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier has its origins in 1991 when Chief Winemaker Tim Kirk travelled to Domaine Guigal in the Côte-Rôtie and tasted from barrel the three famous single vineyard wines — La Landonne, La Turque, and La Mouline. The thrilling amalgam of spice, fruit and floral notes made for ethereal aromas of great allure, with fine but authoritative tannins. On his return to Australia, Tim persuaded his father Dr. John Kirk — who had planted Viognier in the Murrumbateman vineyard just five years earlier — to co-ferment it with Shiraz rather than make a white wine. The Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier was born in 1992 from the vineyard John had planted in 1971, on sandy clay loams over decomposed granite.

Vintage 2023 gave some anxious moments. The spring was so wet and cool that the vines were very reluctant to emerge from their winter sleep, and the shoots grew so slowly that ripeness seemed in doubt. Thankfully, the summer did finally arrive, and the vines embarked on the long but determined journey of ripening through the warm late summer and mild but generally sunny autumn. Picking took place in mid-April, with the fruit exactly ripe and in excellent condition.