Brian Barry O.A.M.- The Winemaker - A Brief History

Brian Barry graduated from the world renown Roseworthy Oenolgy College as Dux of Class with Honours in 1948. He was the 22 nd person to complete the Diploma. Brian then went on to become Australia’s foremost authority of wine chemistry. Being appointed as Chairman of Judges at most major Australian Wine Shows from the 1970’s through to the 1990’s.
In 1973, while Technical Director for The Berri Co-operative Winery and Distillery in the South Australian Riverland, Brian achieved the impossible, by winning Australia’s most prestigious wine trophy, “ The Jimmy Watson “ using only Riverland grapes, to this day no one has ever repeated this.
As a winemaking consultant to the industry Brian has won hundreds of Trophies, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, for some of Australia’s most famous wine producing companies, of which Brian will never officially receive the accolades.
In 1977, Brian chose the beautiful Clare Valley, South Australia, to plant his own vineyard. He named it Juds Hill, after myself, Judson, Brian’s only son.
Brian’s third ever harvest from Juds Hill, the 1983 Riesling, won the Trophy at The 1983 Royal Adelaide Wine Show for Best Dry White Wine of the show. Since then Brian Barry Wines have gone on to win over 135 Trophies, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards combined.
Grape varieties grown are Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz.
2004 sees Brian to complete his 60th Vintage as a practicing winemaker. At age 77, he vows to continue his passion of learning methods to improve his wines.

Judson Barry