Frankland Estate wines founder Barrie Smith’s vision and passion for wine leaves an impressive family legacy and mark on the Western Australian wine industry.
Barrie Smith with wife Judi Cullam established Frankland Estate in 1988. Barrie died on Wednesday (17.8.2022) leaving behind him an impressive legacy. Barrie’s passion for fine wine, sense of adventure, sheer determination and tenacity proved to be a great formula in establishing and developing this now impressive family wine estate.
It was Barrie and Judi’s vision to make some of Australia’s most distinctive wines in the country from one of the most isolated wineries in the world in the relatively fledgling region of Frankland River.
With Judi taking the limelight selling their wines around the world, Barrie would be the quiet achiever toiling in the background in both vineyard and winery.
Barrie Smith grew up on a vineyard in the small Riverland town of Barmera, South Australia. Working the vineyards with his father and brothers exposed him to the challenges and rewards of growing grapes. Barrie followed his family to Western Australia in 1962 and took to selling real estate in Perth.
Judi and Barrie married and in 1972, purchased a farm “Gulmarg” in the Frankland River Region, where they would establish their home and start broad acre farming. Developing a large sheep flock and continuing to sell real estate Barrie and Judi would purchase a further two properties, one of which being the “Rocky Ridge” property purchased in 1978. It is this property where the Frankland Estate winery and Isolation Ridge Vineyard are situated.
Barrie’s passion for wine started early and since moving to Frankland River would each year make a single barrel of “house wine”. A trip to France in the mid 1980s with Bill Hardy of Thomas Hardy and Sons, and subsequent vintages at Chateau Senejac in the Bordeaux region fuelled the fire of interest in planting vines in Frankland River. Barrie also did several vintages with local wineries gaining experience. With this knowledge Barrie and Judi planted the first vines in 1988.
Success and accolades came quickly, and Frankland Estate established some enviable domestic and export markets. Barrie’s tireless and stoic work behind the scenes saw Frankland Estate grow from a modest eight hectares in 1988 to 25ha by 1995.
It is with pride that Barrie’s daughter Elizabeth and son Hunter have continued to grow Frankland Estate to include 40 hectares of certified-organic vines and produce widely respected wines for the domestic and some 16 export markets.
“Barrie’s ambition and passion for the industry was second to none,” says Hunter. “Together with Judi, leaves us as second-generation winemakers feeling incredibly indebted and determined to continue to build on the success of our family wine business.”
