Jim Barry is one of Australia’s legendary wine estates. Based in the Clare Valley, Jim Barry was the region’s first qualified winemaker. He was a pioneer of the valley, which has since become a benchmark region for Riesling, as well as being home to some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines in the world.
Jim Barry graduated from Roseworthy in 1947, establishing Jim Barry Wines with his wife Nancy in 1959. Today their son Peter is at the helm, with Peter’s children – Tom, Sam and Olivia – also working in the business. Three generations of Barrys have now graduated from Roseworthy.
Over 60 years, the family has gradually built up their holdings and today has 17 vineyards in the Clare Valley (covering 320 hectares) and two vineyards in the Coonawarra (35 hectares).
The company is perhaps best known for its flagship cuvée, The Armagh. This Shiraz comes from a single plot planted in 1968 by Jim Barry. The site takes its name from the neighbouring hamlet; named by its Irish settlers who found the lush rolling hills reminded them of their homeland. He wanted to produce a 100% Shiraz that would compete with Penfolds Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace. Today the wine comfortably sits among the upper echelons of Australian wine.
