Clonakilla is a Canberra producer with Irish roots. It was founded in 1971 by John Kirk. Kirk is an Irish biochemist who moved his family to Australia in 1968 to take a research job in Canberra. Because he had helped in the bar at his family’s modest hotel in County Clare, Kirk was interested in wine. In Canberra he bought a 44-acre farm as a weekend pastime and named it Clonakilla after his grandfather’s farm in County Clare. By 1976 Kirk was producing wine commercially and he built a winery in 1977. The reds and white made at Clonakilla have won praise and awards nationally and internationally. Today the estate is run by John’s son Tim Kirk, who is also winemaker. The 33-acre estate produces a Shiraz Viognier that in 2009 was named Wine of the Year in Australia’s most prestigious wine competition, The Australian Wine Annual. Clonakilla also makes Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir. James Halliday has awarded this winery 5 stars, his highest rating, and noted that “It is not at all surprising that the quality of the wines is excellent, especially the Shiraz Viognier, which has paved the way for numerous others to follow, but remains the icon. Demand for the wines outstrips supply.”