In South Australia's Barossa Valley, the Kalleske family have been farming and growing grapes since 1853 near the village of Greenock. They are one of the region's leading grape-growing families, consistently growing some of the Barossa's best quality grapes. After six generations of growing grapes, winemaker and seventh generation family member Troy Kalleske, together with his brother Tony, established the Kalleske winery and made the first Kalleske wine.
The vineyard is managed by Troy and Tony's parents, John and Lorraine, and brother Kym. The 120 acre vineyard is planted to Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Mataro, Petit Verdot, Durif, Viognier, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. The oldest remaining vineyard dates back to 1875, and the average vine age is about 50 years.
The Kalleske Story
Farming Greenock since 1853
1853
Farming at Greenock since
7
Generations of Kalleskes
120
Acres of estate vineyard
1875
Our oldest vines planted
Tony & Troy
We always knew that the Kalleske family vineyards on the western ridge were of a super high standard as the family had supplied Penfolds with grapes for over 100 years, many times the grapes made their way into Grange. For a number of years, we had tossed around the idea of making wine as Troy had spent time working for Penfolds so the next logical step was to have a crack ourselves and see what wines we could produce from those old and low yielding, dry grown vineyards out Moppa way. The recipe was perfect as Troy was a winemaker while Tony was experienced with business and sales. 2002 was the end of talking and all action as the very first wines were produced and we have never looked back.
Estate grown, handmade
All Kalleske wines are estate grown and vinified with minimalist winemaking techniques used to fully capture the essence of the vineyard, allowing genuine handmade estate wines to be produced. The range is a diverse mix of wines that showcases the splendid Kalleske grapes.
Since the first wine release in 2004, Kalleske has rapidly gained a reputation for producing top quality handcrafted wines, and remains committed to genuine estate grown wines of individuality and of vineyard and winemaking excellence.
Wines from Kalleske have been seven generations in the making, but they are certainly worth the wait!
Our History
On 18 November 1838, merchant and miller Johann Georg Kalleske and his wife Johanne Dorothea, together with their four children, landed in the newly established colony of South Australia. They had sailed for many months on the Prince George from Prussia, fleeing religious persecution in their homeland.
In 1853 the Kalleske farm was established at Moppa, a small sub-district of Greenock in the north-western Barossa Valley. Since settlement the farm has been a mix of enterprises including vineyard, orchard, sheep, dairy, pigs, cropping, milling and merchanting.
Today the property continues to be a diverse and thriving mix of vineyards, sheep, cattle, chaff mill and winery, in continual family ownership for more than 150 years and tended by the sixth and seventh generations.
1838
Johann Georg Kalleske and family arrive in South Australia on the Prince George.
1853
The Kalleske farm is established at Moppa, near Greenock.
1875
Our oldest remaining vineyard is planted. It still makes Johann Georg Shiraz.
1998
Vineyard certified organic and biodynamic.
2002
Troy and Tony establish the Kalleske winery on the family estate.
2004
First Kalleske wine release.
Meet Our Family
Troy Kalleske
Winemaker & Co-founder
A seventh generation Barossan who grew up picking and pruning vines planted by his great-great-great grandfather. In 2002, after 149 years of farming by the family, Troy established the Kalleske winery, where he handcrafts every wine. He was named 2008 Barossa Winemaker of the Year by the Barons of Barossa.
Tony Kalleske
Co-founder, Sales & Business
The eldest of the seventh generation, Tony grew up hand picking and pruning on the family vineyard and co-founded the winery with Troy. He is hands-on in the winery during vintage and looks after sales and the business through the year.
The Vineyard
Growing the fruit, and caring for 120 acres of certified organic and biodynamic vines.
John Kalleske
Sixth Generation, Owner & Vigneron
Together with Lorraine, John owns the Kalleske farm and vineyards and has been farming the land for close to half a century. He was instrumental in achieving the vineyard's organic and biodynamic certification, and was named 2015 Barossa Vigneron of the Year by the Barons of Barossa.
Lorraine Kalleske
Owner & Vineyard
Australia's fastest hand grape-picker. Lorraine won four National Grapepicking Championships in the 1980s, including three in a row, and has hand harvested on the Kalleske farm for four decades. She is also involved in planting, training and pruning.
Kym Kalleske
Vineyard & Farm Operations
A merchant and miller like the generations before him, Kym manages the day to day running of the vineyard and farm with his father John, including cropping, organic Dorper lamb, Black Angus cattle and the commercial chaff mill.
