Clonakilla — Australia's Most Iconic Cool-Climate Winery
Clonakilla is one of Australia's most celebrated, influential, and beloved wineries — a small family estate in the Canberra District whose Shiraz Viognier has become one of the most sought-after and critically acclaimed wines in the country. Founded on a vision of cool-climate elegance, sustainable farming, and uncompromising quality, Clonakilla has spent over five decades proving that the Canberra District is one of Australia's great wine regions — and that Australian Shiraz, at its finest, can stand alongside the greatest expressions of the variety anywhere in the world.
History & Heritage
Clonakilla was established in 1971 by Dr John Kirk — a scientist at the CSIRO — who planted the first vines on his property in Murrumbateman, New South Wales, as a passionate hobby. The name Clonakilla is taken from the Kirk family's ancestral home in County Clare, Ireland — a nod to the family's Irish heritage and the deep sense of place that has always been central to the winery's identity.
John's son Tim Kirk joined the winery full-time in 1997 after studying winemaking in France, and it was Tim who would transform Clonakilla from a respected small producer into one of Australia's most celebrated estates. Inspired by the great Syrah-Viognier co-fermentations of the northern Rhône — particularly the legendary wines of Côte-Rôtie — Tim pioneered the Shiraz Viognier style in Australia, co-fermenting small amounts of Viognier with Shiraz to produce a wine of extraordinary perfume, finesse, and complexity that had never been seen in Australian winemaking before.
The Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier quickly became a benchmark — not just for the Canberra District, but for Australian wine as a whole. It has been named Wine of the Year by multiple publications, earned scores in the high 90s from the world's most respected critics, and inspired a generation of Australian winemakers to explore the possibilities of cool-climate Shiraz and Rhône varieties. Tim Kirk's contribution to Australian wine has been immeasurable, and Clonakilla's influence on the direction of the industry continues to be felt across the country.
The Region: Canberra District, New South Wales & ACT
The Canberra District is one of Australia's most distinctive and exciting cool-climate wine regions, centred on the villages of Murrumbateman and Hall in New South Wales, surrounding the Australian Capital Territory. At elevations of 550 to 860 metres above sea level, the region experiences a continental climate of considerable extremes — warm to hot summer days, dramatically cool nights, cold winters, and low annual rainfall. This combination of altitude, temperature variation, and low humidity creates ideal conditions for producing wines of exceptional intensity, natural acidity, and cool-climate character.
The Canberra District's diurnal temperature variation — the difference between daytime highs and overnight lows — is among the most pronounced of any Australian wine region, regularly exceeding 15–20°C during the growing season. This dramatic swing between warm days and cold nights allows grapes to ripen fully while retaining the natural acidity, aromatic complexity, and structural elegance that define the region's wines. The result is a style of Shiraz that is unlike anything produced in warmer Australian regions — medium-bodied, perfumed, spicy, and deeply complex, with a finesse and longevity that rewards extended cellaring.
Clonakilla's vineyards in Murrumbateman sit at approximately 600 metres above sea level on red clay loam soils over granite — a combination that produces grapes of exceptional concentration and mineral character. The estate's commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices ensures that the health of the soil and the integrity of the terroir are preserved for future generations.
Grape Varieties & Winemaking
Shiraz is the heart and soul of Clonakilla. The Canberra District's cool climate produces a style of Shiraz that is distinctly different from the warm-climate expressions of the Barossa or McLaren Vale — medium-bodied, deeply perfumed, with characteristic cool-climate spice (white pepper, black olive, violets), vibrant red and dark fruit, and a structural elegance that allows the wines to age magnificently for a decade or more.
Viognier is co-fermented with Shiraz in the production of Clonakilla's flagship wine, a technique borrowed from the great estates of Côte-Rôtie in the northern Rhône Valley. The addition of a small percentage of Viognier — typically around 6% — to the Shiraz fermentation adds extraordinary perfume, floral lift, and aromatic complexity to the finished wine, while also stabilising the colour and adding a silky, textural quality to the palate. The result is a wine of remarkable elegance and longevity that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Riesling is another variety at which the Canberra District excels, producing wines of vibrant citrus and floral aromatics, laser-sharp acidity, and exceptional ageing potential. Clonakilla's Riesling is a benchmark of the regional style.
Awards & Recognition
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96 Points — Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 2024 (Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2023, Drink: 2025–2040+)
- Named Wine of the Year by multiple leading Australian wine publications across successive vintages
- Consistently rated among Australia's top ten wines by James Halliday's Wine Companion, The Wine Front, and Decanter
- Tim Kirk named Winemaker of the Year by multiple publications
- Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier regarded as the benchmark of Australian cool-climate Shiraz and one of the country's most collectible wines
- Recognised internationally as a pioneer of the Rhône-style co-fermentation technique in Australia
Our Range
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2023 — The flagship expression and one of Australia's most iconic wines. Crafted from 22% whole bunches, co-fermented with 6% Viognier, wild yeast fermented, three-week maceration, and matured in 33% new oak. The 2023 vintage delivered excellent ripening through a warm late summer and mild autumn, with fruit picked mid-April at perfect ripeness. Buoyant, juicy, and perfumed with a wild complexity of spice notes. Extraordinary finesse of fragrance leading to a palate of remarkable depth and precision — a web of tannin described as ‘dewy as it is strong’. A wine of genuine greatness with a drinking window extending to 2040 and beyond. 96 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 2024. Drink: 2025–2040+.
Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2024 — Winemaker Tim Kirk's expression of quintessential Canberra Shiraz at an approachable price point. Medium ruby with vibrant purple edges and brilliant clarity. Expressive and inviting on the nose — fully charged with spice, floral notes, and ripe red berry aromas with an abundance of cool-climate spice characteristic of the region. Medium-bodied on the palate with excellent structure and balance, ripe red berry and floral notes alongside cool-climate spice, vibrant fruit intensity, elegant tannins, and refreshing acidity. A lengthy finish with outstanding persistence. The 2024 vintage benefited from ideal conditions — good spring rain, warm summer days, cool nights, and a glorious early autumn. Pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, duck breast with berry jus, and aged cheddar.
The Clonakilla range also includes the Hilltops Shiraz — sourced from the cool-climate Hilltops region of New South Wales — and the estate Riesling, a benchmark of Canberra District cool-climate white winemaking. Enquire for current vintage availability.
How to Enjoy Clonakilla
The Shiraz Viognier is best served at 16–18°C in a generous Burgundy-style glass that allows its extraordinary perfume to express itself fully. It is a wine of sufficient complexity and structure to be enjoyed without food, but pairs magnificently with roasted lamb, duck, venison, and dishes with earthy, umami depth — mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, or a fine aged cheese board. The O’Riada Shiraz is more approachable in its youth and equally at home with a weeknight roast or a weekend barbecue. Both wines reward patience in the cellar — the Shiraz Viognier in particular will continue to develop and reward for many years to come.
Explore our full Clonakilla range below and discover why this Murrumbateman estate has become one of Australia's most admired, collected, and influential wineries.
