Jim Barry Wines

No name is more synonymous with the Clare Valley wine region than Jim Barry. The eponymous estate produces exceptional wines such The Armagh and The McRae Wood, which are available in over 25 countries and enjoy a considerable following.

Jim Barry had a major hand in the development of Australian wine. It was thanks to his drive and community spirit that the Clare Valley is now known as one of Australia’s premier wine regions. Jim himself was the first qualified winemaker in Clare. He and wife Nancy purchased their first vineyards on the region’s northern outskirts in 1959. Nancy as well as sons Peter, Mark and John were heavily involved in making the winery the successful company it is today.

A second- and third-generation family winery

Second-generation winemaker Peter Barry became managing director in 1985 and continues to run the winery with help of the third generation – sons Tom (winemaker) and Sam (commercial manager), and daughter Olivia (brand ambassador). The Barry family have continually expanded their vineyard holdings over the last 60 years. They now own seven vineyards in the Clare Valley (260 hectares) and two vineyards in Coonawarra (35 hectares). 

The Armagh – a flagship wine

Jim Barry’s flagship, The Armagh, is a remarkable wine that has quickly attained iconic status. Instead of chasing quantity, the estate makes a virtue of the naturally low-yielding old vines from which the wine is sourced. The Armagh is only produced in good vintages.

“I first met Tim Abegg in the early 1990s and set up a relationship with Boucherville to import Jim Barry wines to Europe. Boucherville remain our oldest export partner in the world and continue to be a key partner for us in Europe.”

Peter Barry

jimbarry.com