Kalleske
Barossa Valley, South Australia
Winemaker
Troy Kalleske
Production
15,000 cases
Farming
Certified Organic and Biodynamic
Tech Sheets
Troy firmly believes the holistic approach the Kalleske’s take to their farm leads to the harvest of more expressive, transparent and naturally balanced fruit with energy and vitality.
History
The Kalleske family have been part of the Barossa Valley landscape, farming mixed agriculture in the northern town of Greenock, since 1853. Grape growing has always been a key part of the equation, though it wasn’t until 2002 that 7th generation brothers Troy and Tony turned out the first wine under the family name. They have slowly built it up so the family is no longer selling fruit to larger producers and is producing some of the most exciting, authentic, natural and balanced wines out of the region (Kalleske had one of the longest standing vineyard contracts for fruit to go toward Penfolds Grange).
Land
Kalleske sits in the Moppa/Greenock subregion on the northern edge of Barossa Valley, and at an elevation of 1000ft, is one of the higher localities in the region. As well as the higher elevation, the vineyard is characterized by varying topography of softly rolling hills and gullies creating gently cooling breezes. The temperatures are the coolest in the region, ensuring gradual ripening with good flavor and structural development. Kalleske farms 500 acres, 120 of which are planted to vine, across 30 blocks, the oldest dating back to 1875. For the US market, we focus our attention on the Rhone varieties of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro (Mourvedre).
Winemaking
Troy and Tony’s father John and brother Kym manage the farm, including all the vineyards. John has tended the vines for nearly half a century, and whilst he always applied organic principles, in 1998 he converted the farm to fully certified organic and biodynamic farming principles. Kalleske were the first to farm biodynamically in the Barossa Valley and have since been a resource for others interested in the philosophy. In recognition of their pioneering work, they were recently awarded ‘best organic wine producer of the year’ at the 2013 AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge.
Philosophy
Troy firmly believes the holistic approach the Kalleske’s take to their farm leads to the harvest of more expressive, transparent and naturally balanced fruit with energy and vitality. In the winery Troy works with open top ferments that commence naturally. The wines are unfiltered but fined by gravity (racking). They also follow the patterns of the lunar cycle for harvest and racking when possible.
