Laughing Jack

The Kalleske family has many branches in the Barossa Valley. Laughing Jack is owned by Shawn, Nathan, Ian and Carol Kalleske, and Linda Schroeter. The lions share of the vineyard is planted to shiraz, with lesser amounts of semillon, chardonnay, riesling and grenache. Vine age varies considerably,with old dry-grown shiraz the jewel in the crown. A small part of the production is taken for the Laughing Jack Shiraz. As any Australian knows, the kookaburra is also called the laughing jackass, and there is a resident flock of kookaburras in the stands of blue and red gums surrounding the vineyards. JAMES HALLIDAY

The Kalleske family has been farming this remarkable Greenock vineyard since 1855 and Laughing Jack was formed in 1999. These wines come mostly from this site blessed with old vine, dry grown Shiraz planted in a contoured pattern. Low yields and careful fruit selection in the winery results in some of the purest Barossa Shiraz you will encounter.

Winemaker Shawn Kalleske’s understanding of his vineyards is superb, as is his winemaking. In appropriate vintages, Laughing Jack also releases a range of prestige cuvees in tiny quantities.