Kaesler

Like many of the Barossa’s top wineries, Kaesler owes it origins to the Silesian immigrants who first planted vines in the region – in Kaesler’s case in the 1890s. The Kaesler family farmed their vineyards for over a century, until it was sold to a team that included winemaker Reid Bosward in 1999. Bosward and his team set about reinvigorating the vineyards, and introduced regenerative farming practices designed to ensure the continued health of the vines, which include some truly venerable old plantings. The Shiraz vines planted in 1893 are the inspiration – and key component – of Kaesler’s flagship, the memorably named ‘Old Bastard’ cuvée, and the majority of the vineyards here are more than 50 years old. Unlike many Barossa wineries, Kaesler still relies on its own estate-grown fruit. Less surprisingly, Shiraz plays a prominent part in the range, but long-time Barossa favourites Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre (aka Mataro, in Aussie parlance) also have roles under third-generation winemaker Tim Dolan, who joined from Peter Lehmann in 2022. In addition, Dolan oversees the Stonehorse range of wines, made by Kaesler mainly from vineyards in the renowned Riesling haven of the Clare Valley, which sees a relatively weighty, less austere rendering of the variety join the line-up alongside Shiraz and Grenache bottlings.