Australian wine has no shortage of historic names. Few, however, have shaped the country’s evolution as profoundly as Jim Barry.
Founded in 1959, Jim Barry Wines has spent more than six decades helping define what the Clare Valley and Australian fine wine can be. Today, that same pioneering spirit continues under the leadership of brothers Tom Barry, Director of Winemaking, and Sam Barry, Director of Sales & Marketing, who are carrying the estate into its next chapter while remaining firmly rooted in the vision established by their grandfather Jim and expanded alongside their father, Peter.
From benchmark Rieslings and world-class Shiraz to Australia’s first commercial Assyrtiko, Jim Barry has never been content to simply preserve tradition. Instead, each generation has built upon it and has continually pushed both the estate and Australian wine forward.
A Legacy of Innovation
Jim Barry in the cellar, where a lifetime of pioneering Australian wine took shape.
Before there was a Jim Barry winery, there was Jim Barry the pioneer. In 1947, Jim graduated as just the 17th qualified winemaker in Australia and became the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley. At a time when much of Australia’s wine industry remained focused on fortified wines, Jim saw something different. Working at the Clarevale Co-operative, he encouraged local growers to plant Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, helping establish the varieties that would eventually define the Clare Valley’s global reputation.
When Jim and Nancy Barry founded Jim Barry Wines in 1959, that same long-term thinking guided every decision. Rather than relying on purchased fruit, the family steadily assembled exceptional vineyard sites throughout the Clare Valley, believing that true quality begins with complete control in the vineyard.
Today, that vision has grown into 17 estate vineyards spanning more than 320 hectares (790 acres), each selected for its unique soils, elevation, and ability to express individual varieties. It’s a remarkable estate built one thoughtful vineyard at a time––and the foundation that allows Jim Barry to produce wines with both consistency and unmistakable regional identity.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
The Barry family became the first winery in Australia to have three consecutive generations of family winemakers graduate from the renowned Roseworthy (now Waite) School of Oenology, an achievement that speaks as much to continuity as it does to commitment.
Today, Tom and Sam Barry lead the winery together, bringing complementary perspectives to the business. Tom continues refining the estate’s vineyard-first philosophy in the cellar, embracing new technology while remaining focused on wines that express both place and variety. Sam has helped introduce Jim Barry to new audiences around the world while ensuring the family’s story remains authentic and grounded.
Perhaps the best example of that balance between tradition and innovation is Australia’s first commercial Assyrtiko. Inspired by a visit to Santorini, the Barry family spent nearly a decade sourcing cuttings, navigating quarantine, and establishing the country’s first Assyrtiko vineyard––proof that even after 65 years, they’re still willing to invest in the future of Australian wine.
2026: A Vintage Worth Watching
Hear directly from Tom and Sam as they talk through the 2026 vintage
After the record-dry conditions of 2024, the 2026 growing season began with the winter and spring rainfall the Clare Valley desperately needed. Healthy soils and strong early vine growth set the stage for an exciting vintage before nature introduced its next challenge.
Frost events and an intense summer tested the vineyards, but the season remained remarkably dry and largely disease-free, resulting in exceptionally clean fruit. Careful vineyard management and well-timed harvesting around late-February rainfall allowed the team to bring fruit into the winery at precisely the right moment.
Early signs point to an outstanding vintage. Riesling is showing vibrant citrus character, freshness, and remarkable precision, while the reds are already displaying impressive concentration, structure, and depth thanks to naturally smaller berries. Although yields finished below average, the quality appears exceptional, with purity, balance, and excellent cellaring potential defining the vintage.
Hear everything the 2026 vintage has to offer directly from Tom and Sam Barry in this video.
Coming Soon: Watervale Shiraz
The next chapter in the Jim Barry story is almost here. Arriving in the US this September, the new Watervale Shiraz expands one of the estate’s most recognizable collections alongside the acclaimed Watervale Riesling. It offers a fresh, contemporary expression of Clare Valley Shiraz. It showcases elegance, purity, and depth while delivering exceptional quality well above its price point. Crafted for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, it reflects the style today’s consumers are increasingly seeking.
While it has yet to reach our shores, the wine has already generated excitement in Australia, earning five Gold Medals, including 95-point Gold Medal performances at the Sydney Royal, Royal Queensland, and Royal Adelaide Wine Shows.
Be among the first to introduce this exciting new Clare Valley Shiraz to your customers.
