John Kalleske Vigneron of the Year

Each year the Barons of the Barossa host a Declaration of Vintage, marking the start of harvest with a blessing of the grapes and a street parade. This year's event was held on Sunday the 15th of February. While vintage was already in full swing for a lot of wineries around the Barossa, hundreds of people came to celebrate the Declaration.

At each Declaration, the Barossa Barons select a Winemaker and Vigneron of the Year from a group of community and peer-nominated industry greats. This year we were very proud to see our very own John Kalleske awarded Vigneron of the Year. Beside him was Ben Radford of Rockford Wines, awarded Winemaker of the Year, and Jamie Nietschke of Moppa receiving an award for services to the industry from Barossa Grape and Wine.

John is a fifth generation grapegrower and has done an outstanding job of tending the Kalleske family vineyards for over fifty years. He was honoured and humbled to accept the award, simply stating "We just do our own little thing in our patch of the Barossa".

John Kalleske awarded Vigneron of the Year by the Barons of the Barossa

For further reading, please visit the Barossa Herald website or ABC News.