# Kaesler Viognier (2016)

- **Producer:** Kaesler Wines
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Viognier
- **Region:** South Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–13 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** honeysuckle, peach, apricot, cinnamon, vanilla

## About this wine

The Kaesler Viognier from the 2016 vintage is a 100% Viognier produced by Kaesler Wines in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The wine is affectionately nicknamed 'Steve's Love Child' by the winemaking team, reflecting a personal connection to the varietal. Kaesler Wines is a historic estate, founded in 1893, with a focus on estate-grown fruit. The 2016 vintage was characterized by dry conditions and warm temperatures, leading to an early harvest with concentrated flavors. The winemaking involves fermentation with wild yeast and aging in French oak barrels, including a proportion of new oak.

## Interesting facts

- Known affectionately as 'Steve's Love Child' by the winery team.
- Fermented with 100% wild yeast for added complexity.
- Aged for 15 months in French oak, with 30% new.
- The Kaesler estate was established in 1893.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium+ acidity and creamy texture can cut through richer sauces and complement proteins. Its fruit-forward profile, with notes of peach and apricot, pairs well with dishes featuring similar fruit elements or sweet spices.

## Wine making process

The Kaesler Viognier is produced from estate-grown fruit planted in 2000. The grapes are hand-pruned and managed with minimal water use. For the 2016 vintage, the fruit was lightly whole-bunch pressed, and the resulting juice was fermented with 100% wild yeast in French oak barriques over 20 days at cool temperatures. Following fermentation, the wine was aged in oak for 15 months, with 30% of the barrels being new French oak and the remainder seasoned.