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Wineries

Helm   Cellar door sales  

address 19 Butt's Road, Murrumbateman, NSW 2582
region Canberra District
telephone (02) 6227 5953
website www.helmwines.com.au
open Thurs–Mon 10–5
winemaker Ken Helm, Stephanie Helm
year established 1973
cases 4000
vineyards 15 ha

Ken Helm, well known as one of the more stormy petrels of the wine industry, is an energetic promoter of his wines and of the Canberra District generally. His wines have been workmanlike at the least, but recent vintages have lifted the quality bar substantially, receiving conspicuous show success and critical acclaim for the Rieslings. Plantings have steadily increased, with riesling, traminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz and cabernet franc. Exports to Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong.

The following information was provided by Helm.

Ken and Judith started the vineyard, winery and cellar door in 1973 and have built it into one of the leading wineries in the Canberra District. It continues to be a family affair with Judith doing most of the annual pruning, the arduous accounts and paperwork. Judith or Ken will welcome you at the cellar door.

The winemakers are Ken Helm and daughter Stephanie, who are fourth and fifth generation descendants of German vinedressers from the Rhineland, who established vineyards near Albury and Rutherglen in 1860s.

Winemaker Ken Helm (AM) was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2010 honours. The award recognises Ken's service to the Australian wine industry as a winemaker, through the promotion of the Riesling white grape variety and as a supporter of cool climate wine producers and to the community of the Canberra/Yass region.

Ken's flagship wines are Riesling and Cabernets and he has connections with Riesling makers from all over the world, eg: Dr Loosen and Katharina Prüm in the Mosel and Dr Alexander Kohen from the German Wine School in Koblez. Trips to the vineyards and wineries of Mosel, the Rhine valley and Bordeaux have fine tuned the Helm wines. In 2000 Ken instigated the Canberra International Riesling Challenge  and his continuing role as chairman allows him to constantly keep abreast of new developments in Rieslings around the world.



James Halliday tasting notes

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