Born and raised in the Barossa Valley, James Kalleske began his career in winemaking at age seventeen. During his work as a young winemaker at Rockfield Estate and Thompson Estate in Margaret River, James was awarded with ‘Five Red Star’ James Halliday winery ratings. 

 

His passion for wine also brought him the opportunity to work alongside five of Australia’s greatest winemakers: Bob Cartwright - Leeuwin Estate, Cliff Royle - Voyager Estate, Craig Stansborough - Grant Burge Wines, Vanya Cullen - Cullen Wines and Virginia Wilcock - Vasse Felix, as well as France’s prized fifth generation winemaker Alphonse Mellot in Sancerre. 

 

With his winemaking career spanning more than fifteen years, James is active across many facets of the Asian wine industry and has now proudly and meticulously managed the winemaking and viticultural development for Bali’s highly acclaimed Hatten Wines since 2012.