Barristers Block buys Boston Bay Wines in Port Lincoln

One of the Adelaide Hills’ most popular wineries is expanding to the Eyre Peninsula, buying a pioneering Port Lincoln wine business – with huge plans for tourism.

Boston Bay Wines near Port Lincoln, which has been bought by family-owned Woodside winery Barristers Block.

Family-owned Woodside winery Barristers Block has acquired pioneering Port Lincoln wine business Boston Bay Wines with plans to boost wine tourism on the Eyre Peninsula.

The acquisition includes close to 16ha of land and vines located on a hill about 6km north of Port Lincoln, a cellar door, function centre and brands.

Known for its award-winning white wines, Boston Bay Wines was established almost four decades ago by Graham and Mary Ford, who planted some of the region’s first vineyards on the site in 1984.

Barristers Block’s Lachlan Allen said his family would look at refreshing the brand and planting new grape varieties - such as French white wine grape picpoul - to complement the oysters and seafood of the region.

Longer-term plans include a renovation of the cellar door and development of premium accommodation.

“We want to create an integrated wine tourism experience in one of the most beautiful parts of the world,” he said.

James and Lachlan Allen at their Barristers Block winery in Woodside. Picture: Matt Turner.

“Wine tourism business is at the heart and soul of what we do at Barristers Block and we want to replicate the same quality offering, both in wine and location, at a new tourist destination outside the Adelaide Hills that is primed for growth and not already saturated.

“The location at Boston Bay is simply amazing. Sitting right on the coast, it’s probably one of the closest vineyards to the sea in the world. We believe that we will be able to provide an experience in Port Lincoln that will be sought after by locals and tourists alike.”

For many years, Boston Bay Wines have been produced by Clare winemaker David O’Leary of O’Leary Walker Wines.

However Mr Allen said he was in talks with a local winery in Port Lincoln to bring production closer to the vineyard.

Mr Allen joined the family wine business full-time in 2020 to help with the rebuild after the devastating Cudlee Creek bushfire that destroyed or damaged the entirety of their Adelaide Hills vineyard.

After half the vineyard was repaired, and the rest replanted, it produced its first crop this year and will be back to 100 per cent production by 2026.

The stunning views at Boston Bay Wines.

In February Barristers Block was one of 79 South Australian wineries to share in federal funding as part of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program.

Mr Allen said the funding enabled the family to bring forward a long-planned revamp of the Woodside cellar door.

“We will invest that back into the Woodside cellar door to improve our wine tourism offering and experiences,” he said.

As part of a succession plan, Mr Allen and brother James are in the process of taking over the day-to-day running of the business, which was established by their mum Jan in 2002 and has grown to become one of the Adelaide Hills’ most popular wineries.

Ms Allen said it was the right time to be handing over the reins.

“From humble beginnings, I am proud to hand over the reins to my two sons to continue the legacy of the foundations that I’ve laid,” she said.

“Blood, sweat and tears are the building blocks of the Barristers Block brand and I look forward to seeing what’s next for my children and grandchildren.