McWilliam’s Don McWilliam dies aged 83

Don McWilliam, of Australia’s McWilliam’s Wine Group, has died at the age of 83.

Born in 1934, Don McWilliam is the great grandson of the McWilliam’s founder Samuel McWilliam, the grandson of J.J. McWilliam, the second eldest son of Keith and Ruby McWilliam and a fourth generation McWilliam’s winemaker, of which there are now six.

McWilliam joined the family business in 1951 after graduating from Sydney Grammar school, starting on the factory floor where his job was inserting corks and fitting capsules by hand.

Shortly after he completed his first vintage at Mount Pleasant with winemaker Maurice O’Shea in 1954. Don was later appointed director of McWilliam’s and over the next five decades he played a significant role in the development of McWilliam’s.

“Don was a passionate advocate of Australian wine and for over five decades he dedicated his life to the development of the Australian Wine industry both domestically and internationally, the development of the Hunter Valley wine region and his passion and namesake, McWilliam’s Wines Group,” McWilliam’s said in a statement.

“Don was instrumental in the establishment of McWilliam’s Wines shifting to a premium offering and building a national portfolio of brands in key wine regions to showcase the diversity and quality of Australian wine. Through his tireless dedication and vision he was able to elevate the company to be considered by many as one of Australia’s leading family wine producers.

During his career he was active on the boards of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, Australian Wine & Brandy Producers’ Association, the Australian Wine Board and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia.

“A highly respected and beloved individual within the industry, Don was instrumental in establishing the McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Awards in 1990,” the group added. “This award celebrates an individual, brand, institute, activity or entity that has brought the same passion and drive for the wine industry that he was so well known for. Some of the most noted recipients of this award include the Len Evan’s Tutorial, the Australian Screwcap Initiative, Dr Wolf Blass AM, James Halliday AM and the late Max Schubert AM.”

McWilliam himself was later recognised for his contribution to the wine industry when he became a Patron of the Wine Industry in 1994 and in 1995 when he was given the NSW Wine Industry’s Graham Gregory Award.

In 2003 Don was once again recognised for all of his efforts and dedication to Australian wine by being awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Don retired as McWilliam’s CEO in 1993, remaining chairman of directors for some years afterward.

He is survived by his sons Stephen and Chris and daughter Debra.

on McWilliam with Prince Charles in Mount Pleasant. Credit: McWilliam’s Wine Group