Champagne Wishes Sneak Preview: Sometimes the Best of Manhattan Arrives in a Bottle from Down Under

McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Winery

The Good Life, Imported from Australia

Founded in 1877, McWilliam’s Wines is one of Australia’s oldest and most highly respected family-owned wineries.  The company has premium vineyards in Australia’s most important growing regions, including Coonawarra in South Australia (SA), Hunter Valley and Hilltops in New South Wales (NSW), Yarra Valley in Victoria (Vic) and the Riverina (SA).  The Riverina and Hanwood, in particular, are areas where John James McWilliam – the son of McWilliam’s founder, Samuel McWilliam – had originally identified as having the potential to service the growing domestic and export wine markets. 

From the very beginning, the McWilliam family has been dedicated to the craft of winemaking and the art of storytelling, which helps to continue their winemaking heritage over time.   In 1913, John James McWilliam planted the first vines at Hanwood, just a few miles south of the thriving agricultural town of Griffith in New South Wales.  Then in 1917, he established McWilliam’s Hanwood winery.  In fact, the family winery is famous for its two-story barrel-shaped tasting room adjacent to its aging cellars.  

Just as John James led the way in 1913, it was Glen McWilliam who pioneered the region’s profound shift from fine sherry styles and fortified wines to premium table wines during the mid-1950s. Not only was he responsible for the trial of premium varieties previously unknown in the district, but he was also responsible for leading the way in developing the winery technology necessary to produce table wines in a hot summer climate. 

Today, the Riverina is credited with producing more than two-thirds of New South Wales’ wine and almost one-quarter of Australia’s total wine production.  Currently, sixth-generation family member and spokesperson Scott McWilliam serves as an integral part of the winemaking team. Scott is responsible for conducting all winemaking trials for McWilliam’s Wines and developing new wines from viticultural trials.  His involvement in developing innovative new programs to improve efficiency of winery and laboratory operations positions Scott to carry on the family tradition of crafting quality, premium Australian wines.   All of this guarantees consistently high quality from one vintage to the next.   We look forward to reviewing the talents of McWilliam's!

Rich in character, depth and tradition, McWilliam’s Wines are consistent winners in wine shows across the globe and have received overwhelming endorsements from both the American and Australian wine media. In fact, this year McWilliam’s Wines was awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor trophy at the Royal Sydney Wine Show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years.  In addition, McWilliam’s earned 15 gold medals across its portfolio at the prestigious wine show.  The winery was also recently named 2006 Winery of the Year by renowned wine writer and critic, Stuart Gregor.  Other notable awards include Gold at the 2007 Taster’s Guild, Chairman’s Best of Class at the 2006 Long Beach Grand Cru, Gold and Best of Class at the 2006 Los Angeles County Fair Wine Competition and Critics Gold at the 2006 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition.   

McWilliam’s Wines can be found in restaurants and fine wine shops throughout the world. They are imported to Manhattan and other lovely places in America by E & J Gallo.