The story of Jim Barry wines is very much the story of South Australia’s Clare Valley. Jim Barry was an early graduate (number 17, if you are counting) of Australia’s first oenology course at the trailblazing Roseworthy Agricultural College (since folded into the University of Adelaide). He became the first qualified winemaker to work in the Clare Valley, first making wine for the Clare co-op, later establishing his own winery. Over many decades, the Barry family has built up a vineyard mosaic of some of Clare’s best spots, notably but not exclusively for Riesling. In the mid-1980s, in an era when many fine, old-vine vineyards were being burned and bulldozed to make way for fresh plantings and Shiraz was being pulled out in favour of Cabernet, the Barry set about creating a great Clare Shiraz, the Armagh. In 1986 they also acquired the Florita vineyard, and have since proven it is probably Clare’s premier spot for Riesling. Jim Barry Wines is now into its third generation, with Jim’s grandson Tom the highly-skilled winemaker. (NT 18/08/23)