Images supplied. Credit: Kenzi St George Photography
Jim Barry Wines has opened one of its most meaningful Clare Valley properties to the public, with The Grounds of Florita now available as a wedding and events space after decades as a private family setting.
Set among the world-renowned Riesling vineyards of Watervale, The Grounds of Florita brings together sweeping Clare Valley views, a historic stone homestead, manicured lawns and the kind of rustic beauty that feels both deeply South Australian and unexpectedly European.
At the heart of the property is the circa-1892 homestead, wrapped in thick vines and framed by towering pines, timber shutters and a small Juliet balcony. The building immediately gives the space its sense of romance. A red brick staircase sits out front, and a gravelled courtyard surrounds the homestead.
For the label, opening the property to weddings is a big deal, but it’s also one rooted in family history.
“We just decided we’d probably kept it to ourselves for long enough,” Olivia Hoffmann-Barry from Jim Barry Wines said. “We thought it would make a beautiful backdrop for somebody’s really special day.”
The Barry family purchased the Florita Vineyard four decades ago, making this year a milestone anniversary for the Clare Valley site.
“It’s actually the 40th anniversary this year of purchasing the Florita Vineyard, which is probably one of the most historic and important Riesling vineyards here in the Clare Valley,” Olivia said. “We’re known for our Riesling, and that’s a particularly important site.”
While the vineyard itself has long been central to the Jim Barry story, the homestead has its own journey. A section of the property was later carved off, before the family had the opportunity to purchase it back in 2007, bringing the homestead back into the fold.
The space has already played host to Olivia’s own wedding to Tom Barry. At the time, the area that now forms the large lawn and function space was still planted with vines.
“I got married there almost 14 years ago, and the big lawn area, which is the function space, was actually a vineyard,” Olivia said. “I managed to convince my father-in-law to pull out those vines, flatten it out, put a lawn down, and we built steps.”
She laughs that it was the kind of effort reserved for a first child’s wedding, with her husband Tom the first in the family to get married. That effort became the foundation for a venue that feels carefully and slowly established.
That sense of authenticity is what makes The Grounds of Florita feel so distinctive. It is not a polished ballroom dropped into wine country. It is a working Clare Valley property with history, texture and a little bit of European magic.
“What’s particularly unique is the homestead that creates the backdrop,” Olivia said. “It’s got this real Tuscan feel to it. It’s sort of incongruous with the landscape, and I think that’s what makes it slightly different.
“There are some beautiful pine trees, and it just evokes a feeling that you’re in the rolling hills of Tuscany, or you could be anywhere, which is what we love about it.”
The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests, with wedding packages including the grounds, marquee, furniture, dancefloor, festoon lighting, market umbrellas and other key event pieces. Couples also receive a Jim Barry Wines allowance as part of their package, with the chance to enjoy a private tasting at the winery and select wines for their celebration.
Catering remains flexible, allowing couples to bring in their preferred caterer and shape the day around their own style of celebration.
The homestead itself remains the visual centrepiece of the venue. While guests don’t stay inside the building, couples have access to a restored downstairs lounge, offering a calm private space to prepare, settle nerves or step away during the evening.
“If it were me doing it all over again, the homestead is the backdrop,” Olivia said. “It creates the most magical backdrop to the ceremony, and there’s also a really beautiful Juliet balcony where lots of our friends and family have had gorgeous photos.”
For Olivia, part of the magic is also the venue’s position in Watervale, placing guests close to some of the region’s best food, wine and accommodation.
“You’re really in the heart of the Clare Valley,” she said. “You’ve got beautiful scenery, lovely venues around you, and it’s a fantastic spot to experience the whole valley.”
After years as a private family treasure, The Grounds of Florita is now ready for others to make their own memories there.
“It’s a really rustic venue,” Olivia said. “It’s not trying to be super polished or something that it’s not. I think what people will value about it is its authenticity, and that it’s something just a little bit different.”
The Grounds of Florita
Where: Jim Barry Florita vineyard, Clare Valley
For more information, click here.
