Wine has been flowing in the Clare Valley since 1851 and is an integral part of the culture. The original Mayor, Edward Burton Gleeson, bestowed the name of Clare upon the township in memory of his birthplace, County Clare, Ireland. The Clare Valley is one of Australia’s most prestigious premium wine regions, a tiny area accounting for 2.5% of the total Australian production. With its beautiful rolling hills, ideal winter rainfall and Mediterranean climate, Clare Valley carries a unique history and winemaking heritage.
Jim Barry graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947 and was offered a position at the Clarevale Cooperative, becoming the first qualified winemaker to work in the Clare Valley. In 1959, Jim and his wife Nancy purchased their first property on the northern outskirts of Clare and in 1964 purchased 70 acres of land from Duncan McRae Wood, part of which now forms the famous Armagh vineyard.
With a growing family to look after, Jim took on the challenge of establishing their own winery and cellar door, with the first .home-made wines being produced in 1974. In his 57 years of winemaking, Jim Barry has seen many changes: “When I first came to the Clare Valley, grapes were delivered by horse and cart. Today our business is international, but one thing won’t change: the quality of our wines. At the end of the day, the wines are what matter.”
