James Halliday to retire from working wine writing

After ceasing his weekly column in The Australian, James Halliday says it is time to bow out of wine tasting altogether.

Former chief wine writer for The Australian, James Halliday at Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley. Jay Town/The Australian

Wine doyen James Halliday has announced his retirement from working wine writing.

Halliday, for 40 years the wine writer for The Australian, ceased writing his popular and influential weekly column in April.

On Tuesday, he announced it was time to bow out of wine tasting altogether. He said he would, however, continue to work on a book about great wine dinners he had hosted or attended over the past 50 years.

“Late last year I made the decision that I was going to seriously cut back on my work commitments,” Halliday said. “Having turned 85 I wanted to fully focus on what I want to do, and that is writing about 50 years of great wine dinners I have attended or staged.

“This work has been simmering in my mind and heart for the past half-decade as my ‘swan song’. Recent health issues have made me wish even more for this to have my sole attention. So, while my fondness for writing is undiminished, and with my family’s support, I will be quiet on the wine media front.”

Halliday’s office confirmed that while he was out of hospital and in good spirits, his announcement effectively closed the curtains on a long and distinguished career of wine reviewing.

The wine dinners book is expected to be finished this year.