Dr. John Kirk
Founder
Cambridge PhD, biochemist, physicist and life-long wine lover.
A visionary pioneer of the modern Canberra District wine industry. A leading Australian scientist (that was his other job) who is a world authority on what light does in water and how it effects photosynthesis. Besides many other things, a maker of hand crafted musical instruments and the author of a number of books.
John planted the first vines in the modern Canberra District wine industry in 1971.
He has successfully disengaged himself from the day to day running of the business now, but can still be seen out pruning and monitoring the progress of his beloved vineyard.
Julia Kirk
John’s wife and Tim’s mum.
For many of Clonakilla’s forty years Julia has been the first to take on the countless small jobs that need doing to ensure that things work smoothly: from compiling and managing mailing lists, printing envelopes, packing and dispatching boxes, to stocking shelves, talking with customers, and ensuring that the sales area is presentable.
A lifelong teetotaller, Julia has been involved in every aspect of wine growing, making and marketing at Clonakilla. She knows more about wine than most. We all owe her a great debt of gratitude.
Tim Kirk
Chief Winemaker, CEO
Tim is Clonakilla’s primary palate, chief strategist and cool-climate evangelist. He is married to Lara and the proud father of five great kids; a wine judge, a guitar player and an occasional theologian.
The Board
Clonakilla is a family company. The board is made up of John and Tim Kirk together with three of Tim’s five brothers Kiaran (Chairman), Jeremy and Stephen.
The Office
Michael Lahiff
Production Manager
For over twenty years the backbone of the business.
Michael originally came to Clonakilla in 1991 to look after the vineyard. He now oversees the practical aspects of production in the vineyard and the winery. Michael manages building projects, supervises the vineyard management, runs the warehouse, directs the bottling program, liases with key buyers, looks after the staff, co-ordinates export shipments, fixes whatever is broken, handles all crises and generally keeps the ship afloat. You may well find him serving at the cellar door or chasing up your wine delivery that has gone missing.
A voice of calm authority in a sometimes manic business.
David Reist
Sales and Marketing Manager
A Canadian from Mennonite stock in rural Ontario, David began working at the Clonakilla cellar door on weekends in the mid to late nineties. In the last three years David has returned to Clonakilla to run the office and co-ordinate sales and marketing for us. He is busy getting our systems up to speed and inducting the luddites among us into new-fangled technologies such as Facebook. He is the driving force behind our new website as well as our Clonakilla email news dispatches. Look out for his quirky wine videos too.
David is your first point of contact at Clonakilla, on the phone or via email.
And if you’re looking for an allocation of Shiraz Viognier, keep David happy, that’s my advice.
Anna Healey
Finance Administrator
Anna has recently joined the team here at Clonakilla.
We’re delighted to have some feminine wisdom around the office in what is clearly a very macho environment. Anna keeps the finances in order and pays the bills. Don’t be deceived by the warm and friendly disposition however, Anna is fearless when it comes to chasing down laggard retailers and restaurants who are slow to pay their invoices. You know who you are…
The Winery
Bryan Martin
Operational Winemaker
Bryan Martin join Clonakilla as Tim’s assistant winemaker in 2004. Now Operational Winemaker, Bryan’s role is to manage the winemaking process. He directs the winery team and works closely with Tim on the blend allocation tastings. He brings wisdom and intellect to the question we constantly ask ourselves at Clonakilla: What can we do to make better wine?
Bryan has an Associate degree of Applied science (Winegrowing) 2000 CSU and Bachelor degree of Applied science (Wine science) 2003 CSU. He also has an excellent palate. Bryan judges at various wine shows around the country. He makes his own suite of Canberra District wines under the Ravensworth label. When not immersed in wine, Bryan is a genius with food.
You can read his restaurant reviews and weekly columns on food in The Canberra Times. He is often mistaken for George Clooney.
Clyde Morton
Assistant Winemaker / Viticultural Consultant
Clyde, with a PhD in physics, has been an invaluable addition to our team from the 2010 vintage. With all the letters after his name, he is a natural in the lab. When not working in the cellar or vineyard, Clyde looks after his beautiful kids and can be found lycra-clad on his bicycle, tearing up the highways and byways around Canberra. Clyde is in the process of completing a double degree in viticulture and wine science at Charles Sturt Uni.
Graeme Bott
In a moment of international generosity we invited Kiwi Graeme over to work with us for vintage 2011. Graeme had worked the previous vintage with Stephane Ogier in Cote Rotie and we were keen to hear his insights. He shares our passion for making and drinking cool-climate Shiraz and is meticulous in the cellar. We have never had cleaner tanks or straighter barrels! We liked him so much we are hoping to entice him back next vintage. Even if he is a Kiwi. He looks a bit like a young Elvis Presley.
Jeff Fook
Vineyard Foreman
Jeff has been with us since 2005. A country man of enormous practical talent, we have yet to find something that Jeff cannot do. Need a sheep killed? A trailer full of tomato puree? A barrow load of home-made salami? A free range pig sorted for a spit roast? Jeff’s your man. When not foraging, plucking, growing, butchering or processing food, Jeff runs the vineyard team at Clonakilla. He has an amazing work ethic and a big heart. He claims to prefer beer to wine and that regularly drinking beer has preserved his good looks.
Lee Fook
Jeff’s son. Hardworking, utterly reliable vineyard guy. He does the bulk of the tractor work through vintage. Kick boxer.
Lee doubles as the Clonakilla bouncer.
Jarrod Kite
A former mechanic, Jarrod has swapped the grease and grime of the workshop for the invigorating air of Murrumbateman. It is especially refreshing at 7.30 am mid-winter when pruning in -5 degrees.
Cellar Door
Lex Howard
A life-long wine lover, Lex is a director of Winewise magazine, a wine judge and a veritable compendium of wine wisdom. He is one of nature’s gentlemen. You’ll find him at cellar door from Friday to Saturday.
Alistair Sands
Kiwi, rugby nut, wine educator and tragic. Alistair had a Damascus road like conversion to the cause of Murrumbateman Shiraz when tasting the 1998 Shiraz Viognier out of barrel with Tim late in 1998. A more passionate wine man you are unlikely to meet. You’ll find Alistair at the cellar door every second Sunday. If he is near catatonic with depression it may have something to do with the performance of his beloved All Blacks the night before. Best not mention it.
Damien Mullaly
Economist and wine man.
When not immersed in the challenges of saving the planet by doing modelling on the effects of climate change, Damien lives and breathes wine. He has a postgraduate diploma of wine business from Adelaide University and has completed his Advanced Certificate through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). When time allows, Damien lends a hand with vintage too. You’ll find Damien at the cellar door every other Sunday.