The Clare Valley winemakers are set to celebrate the newest addition to their successful Seasonal Release project.

Jack Walker and Luke Broadbent have only been working at Clare Valley’s O’Leary Walker Wines since 2015, but have already made serious waves.

The duo has this week released the fourth wine from their Seasonal Release project at O’Leary Walker winery.

Jack, who is the son of O’Leary Walker co-founder Nick Walker, says the project came about when he and Luke began playing around and experimenting with some alternative varietals.

“They didn’t really have a home in our range, so Luke and I thought we should start making use of them,” he says.

“We wanted to create a range of wines which is not as serious as our core range.”

Jack says before they knew it, the Seasonal Release project was live, and they created their first wine, a pinotage, which is rarely made in Australia.

O’Leary Walker Wines’ first Seasonal Release – the 2019 Pinotage. This photo: Sam Pearce, Frame Creative.

“Having that really unique first release got us a bit of attention for being so different,” Jack says.

In the months since that first drop, the young gun winemakers have released a nero d’avola and a grenache, which have also been wildly popular.

Today, Jack and Luke are preparing to celebrate the release of the fourth wine from their Seasonal Release project – a Barossa Valley Cabernet Shiraz blend.

Luke says he and Jack are excited by how the project’s fourth wine has turned out.

Luke Broadbent in the cellar

“We identified it early as being a really unique wine,” he says.

“Cabernet Shiraz is that classic Aussie blend, one of those old-school varieties but this time in a new, younger style.

“We are really looking forward to getting it out.”

David O’Leary and Nick Walker started the O’Leary Walker winery back in 2000, and have endured the ups and downs of the Australian wine industry together for over two decades.

Jack, who is a fourth-generation winemaker, says he loves working in his family’s business.

“It is good working with family, it is a team effort,” he says.

“We can all get along and feel free to voice our opinions.

“You don’t always win but you are certainly always heard.”

This year will be Jack’s sixth year working at O’Leary Walker.

Winemaking was always on his radar, and after working at Peter Lehmann winery during his gap year, he held positions in America, France and back in South Australia, assisting in a diverse range of wineries and vintages.

“I really loved the experience,” Jack says.

“In July 2015, I came back here to O’Leary Walker to work full-time as a winemaker, and I’ve been here ever since.”

In contrast, Luke says he only stumbled upon winemaking in his gap year, but he’d always had a passion for science.

“After school I started working at a winery, just in the bottling line,” he says.

“Once I got a bit of a feel for the wine industry, I realised that it was still an applied science.

“I got into winemaking from there, and really enjoyed it.”

Luke went on to study the craft at university and undertook his placement at O’Leary Walker, before joining the winery full-time in 2015.

“Jack and I connected, and the rest is history,” he says.

The fourth release from O’Leary Walker is on sale now. Visit the website to purchase the Barossa Valley Cabernet Shiraz blend.