About Us

Owner and Winemaker, Daniel Balzer began his career in the late 1990's as a cellar hand in the Yarra Valley. He quickly fell in love with making wine as it allowed him to utilise his Science degree at the same time as creating something special. A return to University to study wine making and career choices saw a move to North East Victoria in 2003. From here he found himself being drawn to small batch winemaking, believing that the quality and individuality of wine is so much better when they are hand made.

Over many years Daniel's winemaking philosophy has evolved to a less is more approach. Low intervention winemaking with the aim of creating exceptional, unique, and approachable cool climate wines.

Situated at 600m above sea level, approximately three kilometers south of the township of Beechworth. The Willem Kurt vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, Syrah, Vermentino, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir.

The site, although undulating is predominantly South West facing, and consists of ancient loam/clay soils, flecked with quartz.

The aim is to grow the highest quality cool climate grapes, and to do so with the utmost respect for the land and the environment. The secret to achieving this is to pay particular attentiion in the vineyard, being meticulous with canopy management, and only taking actions when absolutely necessary.

Daniel Balzer and Marije van Epenhuijsen purchased the Willem Kurt property in 2017 and began planting the vineyard that year. What was initially a farm paddock, quickly evolved into a property with a seven acre vineyard, an off grid winery, substantial plantings of trees and native gardens, and a natural reed bed wastewater filtration system.

The name Willem Kurt is derived from the middle names of Marije and Daniel's two children. Their respective heritage being Dutch and German, Willem and Kurt are names that have been used in their families for generations.