THE KALLESKE STORY
The Kalleske family are active practitioners of sustainable farming. They are caretakers of the land and not only want to maintain the environment but improve it for future generations.
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 winery is situated on the family estate where traditional winemaking techniques ensure the vineyard realises its full potential as wine.
The vineyard is managed by Troy’s and Tony’s parents, John and Lorraine, and brother, Kym. John has over forty years experience tending the vineyard. The 120 acre vineyard is planted to Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Mataro, Petit Verdot, Durif, Viognier, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. Vines vary in age with the oldest remaining vineyard dating back to 1875 and an overall average vine age of about 50 years. The vineyard is low yielding with grapes grown organically and biodynamically and the winery is also certified biodynamic/organic.
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 hand crafted wines. Kalleske are committed to continue making 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 Family History
On 18th 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 half-way around the world, fleeing religious persecution in their homeland, Prussia.
In 1853 the Kalleske farm was established at Moppa, a small sub-district of Greenock in the North-Western Barossa Valley. Since settlement the Kalleske 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. The farm has been in continual family ownership for more than 150 years and is today tended by the sixth and seventh generation of the Kalleske family.
Troy Kalleske
Troy Kalleske, is a seventh generation Barossan and grew up amongst the vines of the Kalleske property. From a young age was grape-picking and pruning the vines planted by his great-great-great grandfather in 1853.
In 2002, after 149 years of farming and grape-growing by the Kalleske family, Troy took the next step and established the Kalleske winery. It is here where Troy handcrafts Kalleske wines.
Since releasing his own wines, Troy has rapidly gained national and international recognition as one of the Barossa’s and Australia’s best young winemakers. Troy has received numerous accolades with one of the most prestigious being the “2008 Barossa Winemaker of the Year” title awarded by the Barons of Barossa.
Tony Kalleske
Tony is the eldest of the ‘seventh generation’ Kalleskes. From an early age he was out in the vineyard helping his parents with hand picking and pruning on the family vineyard and together with Troy, co-founded the Kalleske Winery.
Tony is hands-on in the winery during vintage but throughout the year he looks after sales and general business.
Prior to the winery, Tony was national manager for a major human resource company and he’s also a qualified motor mechanic
John Kalleske
John is a proud sixth generation Kalleske and together with wife, Lorraine, is the owner of the Kalleske farm and vineyards. John has been growing grapes and farming the land for close to half a century and was intrumental in achieving the initial and ongoing organic and biodynamic certification for the vineyards and farm. John has always strived to achieve the highest quality from each block and is always looking at new ways to better manage the vineyard along with his Son Kym. In 2015 John was awarded the prestigious accolade of ‘Barossa Vigneron of the Year’ awarded by Barons of Barossa.
Lorraine Kalleske
Lorraine Kalleske is Australia’s fastest hand grape-picker. During the 1980s Lorraine won a total of four National Grapepicking Championships, including a unique three-in-a-row trifecta. As the competition is now no longer held, Lorraine retains the title of Australia’s fastest grape-picker.
Lorraine has put her skills to good use by hand-harvesting grapes on the Kalleske farm for the past four decades. Lorraine is also actively involved in the planting, training and pruning operations.
Kym Kalleske
Kym has continued the Kalleske family tradition and followed in his previous generations footsteps by becoming a fellow merchant and miller.
Kym is an integral part of the Kalleske vineyard and farm, managing day to day operations in conjunction with his Father, John. Kym has almost three decades experience tending the vineyard. Kym has been instrumental in the success of the vineyard and diverse farming enterprises, including cropping, organic Dorper Lamb, Black Angus Cattle and the commercial chaff mill combining traditional and modern agricultural practices
Darren Nietschke
Darren is the Kalleske Cellar-Hand and started working in the winery in 2007 and takes care of all cellar duties during vintage and throughout the year. Since beginning in 2007 Darren has honed his skills in the cellar and works closely with Troy to produce to the premium quality wines.
Darren is a local lad and a cousin Troy and Tony growing up on his parents’ farm and vineyard at Koonunga Hill in Northern Barossa.