…Ancestral Bush Vines

Kaesler Vineyards - 130th Anniversary: 21 April 2023.

The Kaesler family were pioneers who settled in the Barossa Valley in the 1840’s and planted their first vines in 1893. The first owners of the Kaesler vineyards were Silesian pioneers who came to the Barossa Valley in the 1840’s and took up 39 hectares in 1891. By 1893 they had planted the entire area with Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and White Hermitage vines. Some of the gnarled dry-grown Shiraz still remains and provides the backbone of the intense wines they produce.
Kaesler vineyards was owned and operated by the Kaesler family from 1893 to 1986. Then in 1999, renowned agribusiness entrepreneur Ed Peter and winemaker Reid Bosward, together with a number of business partners, seized the opportunity to purchase the property. They immediately set about regenerating these renowned old vines and creating legendary wines. Today, Kaesler vineyards consisted of over 70% red wine vines, all 40 years of age or more.
Reid and his team, work with some of the oldest vines in the world - and these ancient dry-grown bush vines are fragile and need great care during the growing season and harvest time. These mature vines play an influential role in their invitingly complex wines of the Barossa. At Kaesler, they have learnt from history and meticulous winemaking, how to showcase the best from these special sites.
These ancient bush vines craft some of the most character filled wines in the Barossa Valley, as well as reflecting the winemaking philosophy of Reid to showcase each unique vineyards quality. Plus over the years they have researched and developed and incredibly diverse selection of oak barrels to frame and compliment their generous ‘old-vine’ expressions.
For example, the Kaesler ‘Old Bastard’ Barossa Shiraz is arguably one of Australia’s most highly regarded wines. The wine’s name refers to a small number of ‘old bastards’ - gnarly old ‘bush vines’ planted in 1893. The ‘Old Bastard’ Shiraz has consistently been rated as a benchmark Barossa Shiraz - highly sought after by wine enthusiasts and serious collectors around the globe. This 2018 ‘Old Bastard’ Shiraz is the 125th vintage of these 12 rows of ancestral vines. As the status of ‘Ancestral Vines’ - within the Barossa ‘Vine Charter’ - classifies bush vines that are 125+ years of age.
Other unique, key important ingredients in their success; along with being familiar faces in the vineyard and around the winery are Nigel van der Zande - (Vineyard Manager - who joined the team in 2001), and Stephen Dew - (Senior Winemaker - who joined 2002).
*(The following wines are available in the local New Zealand market, and with good decanting & time in your cellar, a real treat).