How did a continent with no native grapes – an island no less – become one of the leaders in fine wine? The answer could be down to a small handful of pioneering winemakers, who saw the potential of Australian wine long before the rest of the world. Jim Barry is one of these men.

Widely credited as being the man who shaped the face of Australian winemaking, Jim Barry Wines was founded by Jim and his wife Nancy in 1959. Using pioneering winemaking techniques such using a pH meter to measure the acidity in his Shiraz, Jim quickly gained a reputation in Clare Valley as being a meticulous and gifted winemaker. Jim was the 17th qualified winemaker in Australia (the first in Clare Valley), formerly responsible for the wines of the Clarevale Cooperative, where he worked as chief winemaker while he acquired enough parcels to go it alone. Slow acquisition of the rocky terroirs followed and the first Jim Barry wine was released in 1974.

Jim Barry is the definition of family heritage. Today in its third generation, passing on the family legacy has been seamless – from father to son (Jim to Peter), to grandson (Tom Barry, who is chief winemaker. Sam and Olivia, Peter’s other children, look after the accounting and marketing of the estate). Under Sam’s steerage, not only has his signature Shiraz continued to garner the same praise as it had under his father and grandfather’s reign, but the Barry Riesling has become a main player on the white wine stage. With one of the longest winemaking legacies in Australia, you’d be foolish to bet against the Barrys.

However, it is of course the Armagh Shiraz that has made the Barry name synonymous with quality. The high scoring wine comes from a single vineyard planted by Jim in 1968, and has been consistent with its low-nineties average aggregate scores for almost 20 years, often being rated much higher by individual critics (Robert Parker gave the 2002 vintage a ginormous 98/100 points). Available for around €200 on the secondary market, all vintages garner enormous interest. The additional bonus of low yields makes the wine extra covetable.