Koonowla prides itself on implementing the most advanced winemaking practices, including setting exceptional viticultural, environmental, safety standards.

The Koonowla vineyards of 250 acres are in the geographical region of the Clare Valley, lying Latitude 1380 43’ 02.01” East and Longitude 340 03’ 15.28” South, at approximately 1000ft above sea level.

The climate is often described as Mediterranean with four distinct seasons of Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring with an annual rainfall of 21 inches (535mm) falling mainly between May and November. The winter temperatures can drop to 00 C on the low flats and summer will rise to 400 C but often with cool nights and curling valley breezes making growing and ripening of fruit, quintessentially Clare.

The vineyard has been planted on selected undulating and firm terra-rosa soils, planted in 19 different blocks with interconnecting and surrounding compacted roads for improved management and fire protection.

All blocks that find themselves subject to frost have had installed wind-fans automatically controlled by temperature sensors ensuring Koonowla has complete frost protection and continuity of fruit in both yield and quality.

Koonowla has a significant aquifer of high quality fresh water that it uses to supplement a massive catchment dam collecting runoff from Koonowla’s higher grazing country. The Vineyard is equipped with irrigation using one of the most advanced computer controlled systems communicating with soil moisture levels in differing geographical elevations and profiles , reducing waste and controlling yield to 3 - 3.5 tons per acre.

Koonowla has concentrated on the three main varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Riesling for some 240 acres and has maintained two old blocks of Merlot and Semillon of 10 acres under contract.

The principal Clones are:

• Cabernet Sauvignon 125, CW44, LC10, LC14 and LYNNS
• Shiraz 1654, BVRC12, NSW15
• Riesling St Helga, 140, D2V2

Koonowla practices sound biodynamic agricultural practices and is well resourced and developed with an advanced soil water retention programme and devotes time and investment annually in re-vegetation making Koonowla one of the districts most distinctive and advanced vineyards.