2026 Jim Barry Assyrtiko, Clare Valley

Jim Barry pioneered the well-regarded Greek Assyrtiko-variety in Australia, planting cuttings of it in 2012 in their Lodge Hill vineyard in Clare Valley.

The cuttings were taken from a single 300-year-old pre-phylloxera vine within the Argyros Estate on Santorini. Those cuttings became Jim Barry’s two mother vines and subsequent plantings of the cuttings from these two have taken total plantings to 6.5 hectares.

The winemaking is precise and minimal. Grapes are handpicked in the cool of morning, whole bunch pressed and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel to preserve clarity and structure.

Assyrtiko produces a fresh, crisp and dry wine with saline characters. Often with almost intimidating acidity, well-made wines can improve for many years in the bottle.

Serve as a aperitif, or with Greek inspired seafood with olive oil, lemons, good sea salt and fresh herbs just about all you need to flavour your oysters, white fish and calamari.

About this producer

Jim Barry was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, and the business he founded in 1959 has remained in family hands across three generations since. In 1964 he purchased 70 acres of prime farmland from neighbour Duncan McRae Wood to plant his first Shiraz vineyard. An inspired choice of both variety and location that set the course for everything that followed.

The current custodians of the family business are Peter & Sue Barry, while the third generation of Barry’s, Tom, Sam and Olivia, work as winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador respectively.