Clonakilla’s O’Raida Shiraz was conceived in the wake of the frost affected 2007 vintage, which slashed yields and production, relegating the flagship Shiraz Viognier to  tiny handful of lucky mailing list customers.  To counter demand, winemaker Tim Kirk was forced to look further afield for fruit sources, and took the unprecedented step of procuring fruit from growers in the Murrumbateman and Hall villages  to create this ‘second tier’ Shiraz Viognier blend. 

With the 2008 vintage showing a return to more normal vintage conditions and production, the O’Riada has comfortably found a place within the excellent Clonakilla stable.  Those familiar with Kirk’s work will find this a familiar experience, those new will discover the pinpoint precision and power for which Clonakilla is famed.  

Ralph Kyte-Powell sums it up nicely: “Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viogniers consistently rank as Australia’s most impressive.  O’Riada, from non-estate fruit including 6% Viognier, is a superb combination of dark berry, plum jam, spice and fragrant floral characters.  It is deliciously precise, intense and finely structured, with a silky texture.  Five stars.”