Jim Barry

Jim Barry was a pioneering winemaker in the Clare Valley region of South Australia.

Having studied oenology (the science of wine) at Roseworthy Agricultural College and graduated in 1946, he took on the role of winemaker and chemist at the Clarevale Co-operative, where he worked for 22 years. This made Jim the first qualified winemaker in Clare Valley.

With encouragement from his wife, Nancy, Jim founded Jim Barry Wines in 1959. The winery became known for producing high-quality wines using popular Clare Valley grape varieties, specifically Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jim Barry ran Jim Barry Wines for 26 years before retiring and handing over the reins to his son, Peter. Jim passed away in 2004, but his reputation as a premier Clare Valley winemaker remains.

After a long career as a winemaker, Jim Barry created a winery in 1959. His three sons – Peter, John and Mark – were also involved.

The first vineyards were purchased on the northern outskirts of Clare, and the first Jim Barry 'homemade wines’ were produced in 1974. The Jim Barry estate grew steadily, buying property in the Armagh area of Clare and Coonawarra.

After Jim retired in 1985, his son Peter became the managing director. Peter’s children – Tom, Sam and Olivia – are now the third generation of Barrys to work at the winery.

Thanks to its long history in the area and reputation for creating premium wines, Jim Barry Wines has become synonymous with the Clare Valley wine industry.

Jim Barry Wines is renowned for several signature wines that highlight the unique qualities of Clare Valley and the surrounding regions.

The Armagh Shiraz is perhaps the most famous wine from Jim Barry Wines. First released in 1985, this medium-bodied, easy-drinking red wine is celebrated for its rich and concentrated flavours, featuring notes of mulberry, elderberry, plum sage, violets, vanilla and spices. It is named after the nearby Armagh area, which was founded by Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s. The area's sandy-gravel soil and north-west-facing slopes that act like sun traps make it the ideal location for ripening Shiraz grapes.

The Florita Riesling is an award-winning, micro-batch white (Florita translates to ‘little flower’ in Spanish). The grapes for this wine are sourced from the famous Florita vineyard in the Watervale sub-region of Clare Valley. This wine is known for its sharp acidity and flavours of lime, lemon, green apple, fennel and white pepper, with a flinty character. This highly regarded Australian Riesling’s citrus notes become fuller as it warms in the glass.

Jim Barry is also the only winery in the Clare Valley to produce white Assyrtiko wines, made from grapes native to Santorini in Greece. The Jim Barry Assyrtiko is crisp and acidic, with fresh, tangy aromas of dried lemon, pink grapefruit, lime juice and bay leaf.

Sustainability is a priority at Jim Barry Wines, and the winery takes several proactive steps to reduce its environmental impact.

Jim Barry Wines is a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and implements biodynamic farming techniques, which can include organic practices. These often include treating a vineyard as an entire ecosystem and avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals. Solar energy is also captured and used on-site.

Jim Barry Wines underwent a carbon audit in 2023 by Toitū Envirocare, a New Zealand environmental accreditor, to achieve a 'carbon reduce' certification.

For its award-winning Riesling wine, Jim Barry Wines designed a proprietary lightweight bottle that aims to reduce the winery’s carbon footprint for the long term.

The Jim Barry winery is open to the public, with several visitor options.

Their cellar door offers a range of wine-tasting experiences six days a week. The Immersion Tasting is for wine lovers who want to fully explore the range of Jim Barry Wines, with the opportunity to try popular bottles and wines yet to be released. The Collector Tasting showcases various vintages of the most famous Jim Barry Wines, including vintages that are no longer available.

Jim Barry Wines also offer tours of its most famous vineyards, including the Armagh and the Florita. These magnificent vineyards offer stunning views, private guided wine tastings and platters of delicious local produce.