Willem Kurt Wines

This is the venture of Daniel Balzer and Marije van Epenhuijsen; he with a German background, and she Dutch. The name of the winery is drawn from the middle names of their two children: Willem (Dutch) and Kurt (German). Daniel began working first at Yarra Ridge (including a vintage in Germany) before moving to Gapsted Wines in ’03, then completing his bachelor of wine science at CSU the following year. Many years were given over to contract winemaking for smaller producers before Daniel and Marije began making wine for their own brand. They planted their own vineyard in ’17 to shiraz, chardonnay, vermentino and more recently, sangiovese. Wines have been solely from estate fruit since ’22; a new cellar door will open in ’23. -JAMES HALLIDAY