In 1971 John bought a 44-acre farm near the village of Murrumbateman, 40 kilometres north of Canberra. John planted a vineyard and named the property Clonakilla - ‘meadow of the church’ - after his grandfather’s farm in County Clare.

Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier puts a fresh twist on Australian Shiraz, born from a vineyard planted by Dr. John Kirk near Canberra in 1971. John planted a vineyard and named the property Clonakilla - ‘meadow of the church’ - after his grandfather’s farm in County Clare.

In 1992, his son Tim started blending shiraz with viognier, adding pinot noir and mataro. Sourced from high-altitude Murrumbateman vines on granitic soils, the wine is known for its aromatic depth, balance, and elegance. This blend earns its place among Australia’s finest wines.

2019 Halliday Wine Companion Award Winning Varietal - Shiraz Viognier

Tasting Notes

"The perfumed, spicy bouquet with red flowers and fruits doesn't prepare you for the intensity and piercing length of its beautifully balanced medium-bodied palate. This is a truly glorious wine that draws you back again and again to explore the wealth of red fruit flavours, and the majesty of its texture and structure." 98 Points - Halliday Wine Companion, James Halliday (2021).