Best's Great Western

Henry Best established the winery in 1866 after purchasing land along the banks of Concongella Creek in Victoria. He began planting vines in 1867, including a collection of diverse varieties now referred to as the Nursery Block. In 1920, the Thomson family acquired the estate from the Best family and has maintained ownership for more than one hundred years. The property is currently managed by the fifth generation of the Thomson family, with Ben Thomson serving as the managing director. It remains one of the oldest family owned and operated wineries in Australia, preserving the original winery structures and underground cellars built in the 1860s.

The estate operates three primary vineyard sites known as Concongella, Salvation Hills, and Sugarloaf Creek. The Concongella vineyard is the historical center of the estate, where vines grow in silty loam soils over a subsoil of deep clay. The climate in Great Western is characterized by a cool continental influence, with cold winters and a long, slow ripening season that promotes natural acidity and intense flavor. In the cellar, the winemaking team continues to use traditional techniques, including the use of historical open fermenters and maturation in original large format oak vats. This approach focuses on small parcel production to highlight the unique characteristics of the ancient vineyard resources.

Shiraz is the defining variety for the producer, headlined by the Thomson Family Shiraz and Bin No. 0 Shiraz. Both wines are recognized in the Langton's Classification of Australian Wine for their quality and aging potential. The winery is also noted for its Pinot Meunier, which is produced from vines planted in 1868 and represents some of the oldest surviving plantings of the variety globally. In 2012, the producer received the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for its 2011 Bin No. 1 Shiraz, a significant honor in the Australian wine industry. The portfolio also includes Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon, which further demonstrate the regional style of elegance and longevity.