History

The Society was formed in 1905, at a meeting at the Wine Trade Club in King Street Melbourne as an industry advocacy group to Government. As the industry grew other representation groups took over this role. Hans Irvine, the pioneer of sparkling winemaking at Great Western, was the first president.  Another early president was Francois de Castella, Government Oenologist.

The Society in its early years was composed entirely of vignerons and winemakers who met regularly in Melbourne, usually at restaurants, to compare and discuss their wines.  The Ritz Café was a favoured meeting place.  Later, wine merchants and licensed grocers were admitted, presumably to help marketing and promotion of wine, in the face of threatened temperance restrictions and a lack of understanding from a beer drinking public.

The Society was for many years conducted under the auspices of the Wine and Brandy Producers Association, until that body ceased to exist.  The Society is independent of any trade organisations and maintains a close connection with winemakers and key industry members by restricting membership to roughly one third winemakers, one third merchants or industry members and one third those with a strong industry interest/knowledge.

For further information on the history of the society we recommend that you purchase “ A Vision for Wine – A History of the Viticultural Society of Victoria” by David Dunston published in 2013 which is a comprehensive history of the society and its relationships within the Victorian and Australian wine industry. This 209 page hardcover book also contains numerous historic photographs and images (many in colour).  It is priced at $60 including postage and handling Australia only. To purchase a copy of the book contact us.