2026 Kaesler Old Vine Semillon, Barossa Valley

Another piece of Australian history, this time telling a story from 1961 planted vines. Another fragrant vintage beginning with white flowers, fresh linen and green apple skin. There is great intensity from varied harvest with some pomelo and white peach throughout, salt flakes and fresh lemonade brightness. Acidity powers the wine in an everlasting sort of way, long sweeps of succulence and zeal. A wine with balance and harmony and a beacon of Semillon in South Australia. Drink now or in 5, 10 or 15 years. Try this with some ash rind Morbier style cheese and celebrate old vines and the great Aussie lifestyle. Drink to 2041.

95 points Shanteh Wale for Wine Pilot, July 2026

Semillon is traditional white wine variety of the Barossa Valley but rarely gets the attention the region's red varieties command. Kaesler's old vine block was planted in 1961 on the estate near Nuriootpa. The site is dry grown and hand pruned, and the vines have had more than six decades to find their depth in the sandy clay loam soils.

Winemaking is deliberately hands-off. Fruit is hand harvested in the cool of the morning, cold pressed straight to tank, cold settled and fermented without oak. The intention is pure varietal expression with nothing added to mask it.

Semillon is the ultimate chameleon at the dinner table. Its electric young acidity will slice cleanly through raw seafood, while a decade in the cellar unlocks a deep, textural luxury built for richer, roasted profiles. On release, this pairs well with Vietnamese betel leaf rolls filled with king prawns, green mango and crushed macadamias. As it matures, plate up some charcoal-grilled swordfish or a roasted pork loin, while a piece of aged Comté would be nice if you manage to hold onto a bottle for more tan ten years.

About this producer

The Kaesler family were Silesian pioneers of the Barossa Valley in the 1840s and planted their first vines in 1893.

A group of investors led by Ed Peter purchased the by-then run-down property in 1999 and chose to honour the family’s legacy in its name. Today, Peter’s Dural Wines manages the winery as well as Kaesler’s 37 hectares of vines, most of which are considered old vines and some up to 129 years of age, through regenerative farming. The majority of the vines are located around the winery in Nuriootpa, with just over nine hectares in the western Marananga part of the valley.

Third-generation Barossa winemaker Tim Dolan leads a team at the winery that has it eyes firmly set on presenting some of Barossa’s finest wines.