Best's Wines Pty Ltd

About Winery and Wines

In 1866, Henry Best purchased 73 acres of land in Great Western and a property named Concongella. With the first vines planted in 1867, Best’s became a functioning winery by 1869. Meanwhile in 1893, Scottish born William Thomson settles in the Great Western districts and purchases a winery at Rhymney. By 1907, the Best’s trademark is registered, one of the first Australian wine companies to do so. In 1913, Henry Best aged 81 passed away and was laid to rest in the Great Western cemetery. In 1920, William Thomson and son Frederick Pinchon purchase the Best’s vineyards and winery for £10,000. In 1924, William Thomson died, passing the property to his son Frederick, who looked after it during The Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1908, Frederick (Eric) Hamill Thomson was born, forming the third generation. Then in 1938, a son Eric Vivian (Viv) Hamill Thomson was born, the fourth generation of the Thomson family. Frederick Pinchon Thomson died in Hong Kong in 1949. In 1961, Viv joined the family winery for his first vintage. A son, Benjamin Hamill Thomson arrived in 1964 as the start of the fifth generation of Thomson’s. A decade later in 1974, Viv oversaw the relocation of The Stables Cellar Door to allow for expansion and the cellar door as we now know it was erected. One year later in 1975, Viv appointed the first ‘external’ winemaker of Best’s Great Western, Trevor Mast, who would go on to be known as one of Australia’s greatest ever winemakers. Viv Thomson became President of Victorian Wine Association in 1982 and continued his role as an active National Wine Show Judge. In 1988, Simon Clayfield was appointed Best’s winemaker.