Industry Mourns Wine Patriarch
By NIGEL AUSTIN 15 October, 2004 (The Advertiser, Australia)

"CLARE Valley winemaking great Jim Barry died yesterday morning at the age of 79.He was regarded as a pioneer of the Clare wine industry and of winemaking in Australia. Over 57 years, the company he built has become one of the great wine producers of the Clare Valley and South Australia. Mr Barry, who arrived in Clare in an old Chevrolet ute in 1947, has become known worldwide through the wines that carry his name.
He was the first qualified winemaker of the Clare Valley after being the 17th graduate of the Roseworthy College oenology course. It made him the 17th qualified winemaker in Australia." MORE->

I greatly appreciate Bob Foster of San Diego for providing this, unfortunately sad, piece of news.

The article notes that Mr Barry had been thrilled a few months ago when the company's 2002 Lodge Hill Shiraz won the best shiraz award at the International Wine Challenge in London. As readers of this eBlog will know I was more more than a little impressed with the 2002 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz. It does not reach the heights of a classic wine, and it may not be the wine to judge a career by, but having bested the world one might feel justified in resting for more than a little while at such lofty heights. Link to Jim Barry Wines.