Winemakers

Jim Brayne joined McWilliam's Wines as a cellar hand in 1973 and was appointed Chief Winemaker in 1986; and Production Director and an Associate Director in 2003. He is based at McWilliam's Wines winemaking headquarters at our Hanwood Winery, near Griffith in New South Wales.

In his current position, Jim oversees the creation and style – from vineyards to final blending – of all wines produced in the McWilliam's Wines award-winning portfolio of brands.

Jim is proud of his hands on training, which he believes has been a successful combination of “apprenticeship” and “academic”. Whilst working at McWilliam's Wines he completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Oenology) degree at Roseworthy College (1975-1977), where he was awarded the RH Martin Memorial Award for sensory evaluation.

In February 2004, Jim's achievements and contribution to the Australian wine industry were recognised when he was awarded the prestigious 2004 Graham Gregory Trophy, by the NSW Department of Agriculture.

In 1998, he was awarded the Employer's Federation Employee of the Year Award in recognition of his achievements and commitment to the company. He was also a finalist in the Qantas/Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year award in 2000 and 2002.

Jim has also judged at Australian wine shows - including Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra, as well as various regional shows – since 1983. He has also been a guest judge at the New Zealand Wine Show.

Corey Ryan was appointed McWilliam's Wines Group Chief Winemaker in September 2008 and is responsible for overseeing the winemaking stylistic development and management of McWilliam's Wines portfolio of wines.

Corey began his winemaking career working for Southcorp Wines, prior to spending six years as Winemaker for Henschke in the Eden Valley. He joined Villa Maria Estates in August 2002 as its Senior Winemaker, spending five years with the winery before establishing his own wine consulting business of which Villa Maria Estates was a major client.

Throughout his career, Corey has also worked in France's Rhone Valley and in Spain.

Corey has completed Bachelor of Science Majors in Molecular and Microbiology, (Flinders University, 1990), Masters of Oenology (University of Adelaide, 1995), Graduate Diploma of Wine Business (University of Adelaide, 2000), and is a third year Master of Wine student with the Institute of Masters of Wine, London. He has also judged at wine shows internationally and across Australia.

Corey is based at the Company's winemaking headquarters at our Hanwood Winery in Griffith, New South Wales.