About
"Koerner Wine is a partnership between brothers Damon and Jonathan Koerner. Our wines are produced from fruit grown in the Watervale area of the Clare Valley, with the majority coming from our family vineyard, Gullyview- owned and managed by Mum & Dad, (Christine & Anthony Koerner), for the past 38 years. Our winemaking philosophy is very simple - the wines are made in the vineyard. The date of picking is the most crucial part of the process. Once the grapes make their way to the winery, they are carefully nurtured and each batch treated individually. An understanding of terroir and the individual varieties enables us to produce unique wines using nothing but the grapes and a small amount of sulphur! We attempt to produce wines to a style that we both enjoy drinking. Generally these wines are light, fresh, textured and well structured with high drinkability in mind. To achieve this we pick early and use very hands off winemaking techniques. Our reds are bright, vibrant and can be enjoyed young with a great balance between primary fruit, acidity and phenolics. Our whites express their aromatics and primary fruit, while showing mouthfeel, structure and texture." - Koerner Wine
The Koerner Riesling Story
"Watervale is one of the most famous Riesling growing regions in Australia and we are lucky enough to work with three single sites. All three vineyards are within a few hundred meters of each other, yet produce completely different wines, each with very unique site characters.
Kick back, relax and take a look at our Riesling story." - Koerner Wine
New Releases
2022 Watervale Riesling
Riesling but not as you know it - aromatic with texture and spice
Vineyard: Gullyview & Parish Vineyards, Watervale
Blocks: Grace, Parish & Gullyview
Planted: 1973, 1923 & 1973
Soil type: Red clay on limestone (Gullyview & Grace), Red clay on slate and iron stone (Parish)
Picking date: February 22, 23 & 24, 2022
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in Steel & ceramic amphora for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 6 months
Bottled: 09/01/2023
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 11.8
pH: 3.11
TA: 6.4
SO2: 30 free / 65 total
Production: 775 dozen
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"Made from approximately 20% Gullyview, 20% Parish and 60% Grace, this wine sees 50% ceramic eggs and 50% stainless steel, and I cannot think of a more pure and layered Watervale Riesling. This is a heavenly, forward-drinking, delicate wine with no kerosene hints, just pure lime and apple, augmented with prickles of spice. This must be one of the finest value elite-level Rieslings in Australia.
(Drink now – 2028)"
18.5/20
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 3 May 2023
"Gullyview and Parish vineyards combined. Made in steel and ceramic amphora.
An expressive riesling, some egg white whiffs, a touch of white balsamic in the best sense, green apple, some talc and balsa wood characters too. Some alpine herb elements in the mix. The palate crackles a bit and shows off some briny, saline elements too, finishing salty and bright. Delightful."
94 Points
2022 Parish Riesling
South facing, rich soils with slate - floral, stone fruits and delicate texture
Vineyard: Parish Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 1923
Soil type: Red clay on Slate
Picking date: February 22, 2022
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in 10% Ceramic amphora and 90% steel for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 9 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Bottled: 10/01/2023
Alc: 11.8%
pH: 3.2
TA: 7.0
SO2: 30F, 64T
Production: 113 dozen
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Posted on 19 March 2023
“Anfora and steel. Parish the thought, with Clare Valley Riesling!
Stylish. Different. Nutty, fennel, pear, lime and green mango. Plenty of fine chalky tannin, a vaguely earthy character, rich and juicy, heaps of flavour and a more weighty expression of Clare Riesling, with a juicy quinine tang on a long finish. Excellent. Also, complex and very much in the great-to-drink-now zone.”
94 Points
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"This wine could not be more different, with 90% in steel and only 10% in ceramic eggs, and it is only 350m away from Gullyview. It is brutally lean and leggy with awesome sinew and latent power, and while the first vintage release was only in 2020, I can imagine this wine running on for 20 years such is the class and drama in the core of this Riesling.
Overlaying the high tensile structure is a thrillingly beautiful array of delicate fruit, which shows blossom, herb and pith details over a tangy citrus theme.
(Drink 2025 – 2040)"
19+/20
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 3 May 2023
"From 100 year old vines and on slate soil profile. A mere 200 metres away from the family vineyards. Distinct from regional staples, which is a blessing in many regards – more approach to savouriness, texture, less fiddling and polishing.
A wilder edge to the wine in that it lifts on a fino-like saline character amongst green apple, under ripe pineapple, lime and the expected blast of talc/chalk minerality. Pumice stone texture cupping the juicier fruit elements, long, potent finish with a sense of multi-dimension and excellent persistence of minerally flavours. Gentle undertow of nuttiness, salty pretzel character. Super lovely."
96 Points
2022 Gullyview Riesling
South facing, boney soils - ginger spice, mineral and soft textures
Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Blocks: Gullyview (GV1)
Planted: 1974
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 23, 2022
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in 70% ceramic amphora & 30% steel for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 9 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Bottled: 10/01/2023
Alc: 12.3%
pH: 3.11
TA: 8.4
SO2: 35F, 65T
Production: 103 dozen
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"With 70% ceramic eggs and 30% steel, this is a stunningly sexy and succulent wine. The amplitude of flavour is incredible and enticing, and you can sense the white limestone soils underpinning the brightness and vitality of this wine. Juicy and indulgent, this is also drinking, but there is so much more to come with age!
(Drink now – 2032)"
18.5+/20
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 3 May 2023
"On limestone soils and the family vineyard. It is 50 year old vines. About half is in ceramic egg for maturation.
Intense and super refreshing, bright lime, green apple, a bit of green mango, a sense of chalkiness and fine, green almond characters. Mineral super-charged. Expressive and mouth-watering, super vibrant, very persistent. It feels excellent to drink, it feels good for a cellar, it thumbs its nose at the standards of Clare. And righteous for that."
96 Points
2021 Grace Riesling
North facing, rich soils - lemon and lime with great drive
Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Blocks: Grace (G1)
Planted: 1974
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 4 & 9, 2021
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 12 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in 100% ceramic amphora for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 10 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 11.5%
pH: 3.03
TA: 6.7
SO2: 20F, 55T
Production: 69 dozen
(Image: Damon and Jono Koerner - Koerner Wine / www.instagram.com/koernerwine)
2022 Rolle Vermentino
Pure Vermentino – stone fruits, salinity & drive
Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 2007
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 25, 2022
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destemmed
Skin contact: 12 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Settled off dirt and heavy solids for 24 hours
Fermentation: Natural ferment in Slavonian oak Demi-muid
Aging vessel: Slavonian oak Demi-muid for 8 months on full solids, then stainless steel on fine lees for 3 months
Filtration: no
Fining: no
Bottled: 10/01/2023
Alc: 10.8
pH: 3.15
TA: 7.1
SO2: 24F / 55T
Production: 250 dozen
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 19 March 2023
“Twelve hours skin contact which does make a difference. I reckon more folks out there seeking complexity from their white wines could go 12-48 hours on skins for such purposes. Vermentino particularly likes skin contact.
Nailed it. Skinsy and super puckering, lots of lemon verbena, preserved lemon, ginger and briny elements. Satisfying chalkiness, bright acidity, a light fizz to acidity with strong green apple and tart lime characters in the mix. A touch of peppery green herbal element too. It’s fantastic drinking, so refreshing, interesting and delightful to drink. Summery, but cold stand up on a table to room temperature too – just add salty foods. Killer wine.”
94 Points
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"Planted in 2007, this sensational Rolle/Vermentino is up there with the finest I have tasted from this variety in France and Italy. It is made in a similar vein to a Chardonnay with careful use of Slavonian demi-muids to add texture, but not flavour. This is an amazingly accurate and utterly mesmerising wine. I cannot express how surprised I am to find a world-class Rolle in Clare, growing between Grace and Gullyview and performing at the top of this grape’s game! Forget the grape for an instant, though and think of any brittle, effortlessly cleansing, ninja-fit white wine on earth, and this 2022 Koerner Rolle would give it a run for its money – it is that good.
(Drink now – 2026)"
19/20
2022 Mammolo Sciacarello
Light and bright red – aromatic, spicy and super acidic
Vineyard: Vivian Vineyard, Watervale
Farming: Organic
Planted: 1998
Soil type: Black and red clay on limestone
Picking date: March 16, 2022
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destemmed retaining 50% whole berries with no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: Free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Slavonian oak 2000L foudre for 9 months then racked to steel for 2 months
Bottled: January 2023
Filtration: no
Fining: no
Alc: 13.3
pH: 3.17
TA: 7.2
SO2: 16 free / 40 total
Production: 375 dozen
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 19 March 2023
“There are few in the Australian wine industry who look as good in stripey shirts, RM Williams, gilets and tan moleskin slacks as the Koerner boys. Or is that my imagination? If it is, then it’s how a lot of my dreams start. This wine is so often a winner, by the by. For a vin de soif (of the highest order) the bottle is drongo-level heavy, though. Organic farmed.
Bright and light garnet coloured in the glass. Australia’s answer to great pelaverga. Crunch and sip, bright and crisp cherry characters, black pepper, some sweet spice, some alpine herb characters, a touch of meatiness lending complexity. Snappy texture, fresh-as finish. It’s succulent and oh so lively, it should be drunk with a chill and guzzled with impunity. A ripper.”
94 Points
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"Made from 100% Sciacarello and matured in a Slavonian oak 2000L foudre for nine months, then racked to steel for two months, this is a loveable oddball and an impossible wine to guess blind. That said, it is delicious, raspy, and mouth-watering, and it covers the entire herbaceous spectrum of flavours without ever seeming green – and this is a feat in itself!
(Drink now – 2025)"
18/20
2021 Cannonau Grenache
Old Vine Grenache - bright, spicy with graphite like structure
Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 1935
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 18 & 27, 2021
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destem retaining ~ 50% whole berries, no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: Free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: 2000L Slavonian oak foudre for 12 months then racked to steel for 3 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 13.0%
pH: 3.43
TA: 6.3
SO2: 25F, 55T
Production: 215 dozen
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 3 May 2023
"It be grenache, of course. Gentle treatment in winery, two weeks on skins.
Juicy and bright, lovely, lively expression, gummy in texture, jubey in fruit, red berry spectrum, a touch of fennel and liquorice in the mix. An expressive style that I would tighten with a light chill, but many will enjoy the general vivacity and easy access here. It feels a touch fancy too. Good fruit."
92 Points
2022 La Korse Red Wine
Corsican inspired - red fruits, light and easy drinking
Varieties: 37% Sangiovese, 33% Grenache, 14% Sciacarello, 10% Carignan and 6% Malbec
Vineyard: Vivian, Gullyview & Parish Vineyards, Watervale
Planted: 1998, 1935, 1998, 1998 & 1985 respectively
Farming: Organic
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 26 and March 10, 15, 16 & 18 2021
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destem retaining ~ 50% whole berries, no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Stainless steel for 11 months
Bottling Date: 11/01/2023
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 12.7
pH: 3.31
TA: 6.6
SO2: 21 free / 47 total
Production: 720 dozen
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"Made from 37% Sangiovese, 33% Grenache, 14% Sciacarello, 10% Carignan and 6% Malbec, this is a masterful example of layered varieties, bringing untold complexity to a relatively innocent red wine. While the Grenache spends some time in foudre, the remaining grapes are kept in steel, bringing a cool edge, brittle acidity and raciness to the whole. With red and blue fruit notes bounding around the palate, this is a triumphant wine you can glug at speed while not letting your standards down!
(Drink now – 2025)"
18/20
Winefront Review by Mike Bennie
Posted on 3 May 2023
"A blend of 37% sangiovese, 33% grenache, 14% sciacarello, 10% carignan and 6% malbec.
Sloshy, juicy, bright. A vivacious, lighter red with many notes and a symphonic feel yet a zing and duck and weave for interest. Really tart, red berry characters, cranberry and its dryness, licks of woody spices, minty herbal elements, bloody notes too. Wonderful wine, so fresh and so clean clean."
93 Points
2021 The Clare
Bordeaux varieties made in a Loire style - vibrant, bright fruits & soft tannins
Varieties: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Grenache, 6% Malbec, 6% Carignan & 2% Sciacarello
Vineyard: Vivian, Parish & Gullyview Vineyards
Planted: 1998 & 1930
Soil type: Red clay on limestone, 'Terra Rossa'
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destemm retaining ~ 50% whole berries, no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: Free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Slavonian foudre for 9 months, then racked to steel for 3 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 13.1%
pH: 3.59
TA: 5.7
SO2: 17F, 30T
Production: 890 dozen
Review by Matthew Jukes
Posted on 27 April 2023
"I love this fabulous ‘Clare Claret’! Made from 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Grenache, 6% Malbec, 6% Carignan and 2% Sciacarello, with a hefty dollop of 1930-planted fruit on board, this is one of the region’s most attractive young red wines, and I would love to get this bottle into the hands of every restaurateur in the UK because it is precisely the shape, style, brightness and flavour that we adore. I am not surprised that this wine is in perfect balance because the Koerners are dab hands at blending and assembling complex red wines, but the quality of fruit here, for the price, is exceptional!
(Drink now – 2025)"
18.5/20
(Image: Damon and Jono Koerner - Koerner Wines / www.koernerwine.com.au)