When asked why Troy became the first winemaker in the family after six generations of grape growers, he says it’s down to being in a warm dry winery rather than the out in the elements! But to take this step was a bold move rather than a lazy one given the Kalleske family had built a reputation as the most respected of growers, supplying Penfolds with fruit since the mid 1880s from their farm in Greenock.
Following a degree in oenology, Troy, winner of the coveted Barons of the Barossa winemaker of the year award, worked for Penfolds and then subsequently Southcorp before making a few barrels of Kalleske with his brother Tony in their garage. The first wines were released from the 2001 vintage and received international acclaim. The Kalleske name has reached cult status on home soil and is becoming very hot property around the world.
The family’s 120 acres of vineyards are certified organic and farmed using the best sustainable practices leading to wines that really demonstrate the terrior of Greenock.
These are the wines, vintages and approximate retail prices from Kalleske we currently have available in the UK:
White Wines
| Label | Name | Size | Approx retail price | Stockist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Clarry's 2006, Semillon/Chenin Blanc | Bottle | £12.00 | Find Stockists |
|
Lorriane 2006, Semillon | Bottle | £8.00 | Find Stockists |
Red Wines
| Label | Name | Size | Approx retail price | Stockist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Clarrys 2008, Grenache/Shiraz | Bottle | £14.00 | Find Stockists |
|
Greenock Shiraz 2006 2006 *94 - 5 glass rating Highly Recommended - Halliday *92/100 Parker | Bottle | £28.00 | Find Stockists |
|
Greenock Shiraz 2006 - Magnum *94 - 5 glass rating Highly Recommended - Halliday *92/100 Parker | Bottle | £58.00 | Find Stockists |
|
Old Vine Grenache 2006 *Very limited quantities * 93/100 Parker * 90 – 4 ½ glass rating Highly Recommended - Halliday | Bottle | £34.00 | Find Stockists |
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Johann Georg Shiraz 2007 *Available in very limited quantities * 93+/100 Parker * 96 - 5 glass rating - Halliday "One of those rare wines when very high alcohol does not compromise the palate, its mix of blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice in a savoury spectrum; very good length; vines planted 1875. Cork." | Bottle | £65.00 | Find Stockists |
|
J.M.K. Shiraz VP 2006 and 2007 *Available in very limited quantities * 2007 gets 91/100 Parker *2006 gets 90/100 Halliday | Bottle | £15.50 | Find Stockists |
Whats going on at the winery
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
- Click here to see pictures and other bits and pieces from the winery.
Meet the winemakers
Troy Kalleske......
- What was your first job?
- First job was picking grapes with Mum & Dad in their vineyard when I was a little tacker. First real winery job was cellarhand with Rolf Binder at Veritas. First ‘winemaker’ job was graduate winemaker with Southcorp.
- What has been your greatest wine and food experience?
- My wife, Sal, and I were in Europe in 2008 with our Swedish importer and he took us to a funked up wine bar. It was a cool place overlooking Stockholm and we had slow braised venison matched with a beautifully textured, complex Spanish Tempranillo. It wasn’t necessarily the ‘fanciest’ or most expensive but the food, wine, atmosphere combination was absolutely amazing.
- If you could make a vintage anywhere, where would you go?
- The Cape Winelands in South Africa. Have never been, but the country looks stunning, they make awesome wine and apparently have great food too.
- Your proudest moment?
- Being named as the Barons of Barossa ‘Winemaker of the Year 2008’. It was so awesome and such a great honour to receive it. I saw it as not only acknowledging me but the great work that my parents, brother and previous generations have done in our Kalleske vineyard.
- What would you last meal be?
- Freshly cooked crayfish (lobster) – just love the stuff.
- What is your desert island wine (apart from your own)?
- A desert island would be rather warm, so would need something refreshing but at the same time flavoursome… a good dry Fino Sherry should do the trick.
- What would be your fantasy other job?
- Forensic scientist (CSI make it look so cool!)
- Sport: Round Ball or Oval?
- Round - Basketball
- Who, in the whole of history, would you most like to sit next to on a long-haul flight?
- Homer Simpson – we’d have a great time drinking beer and eating peanuts together and I’m pretty sure our conversation would be much more enjoyable than some people I’ve sat next to!
- How would you best like to be remembered?
- As a vineyard and winery who was the pioneer at the forefront of organic/biodynamic winemaking in the Barossa resulting in wines of genuine quality and vineyard authenticity.
For a stockist in your area please call us on 01256 897 640
Top five stockists
- Harvey Nichols - National 020 8957 5030
- Caviste - Overton, Stockbridge and Odiham 01256 770 397
- Bowes Wines – Mailorder 01380 827 291
- Wine Bear – London 07799 832 145
- Oxford Wines – Oxford 01235 821 539
