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A change in the vine,
Halliday passes the pen,
Ryan's time to shine.
Nick Ryan to succeed James Halliday as senior wine writer for the Australian
Raise a glass to Nick Ryan who has been appointed as the new Senior Wine Writer for The Australian. He succeeds James Halliday AM, who has held the position for four decades. Halliday, who began writing a weekly column for The Weekend Australian in 1984, will continue to contribute features to The Australian and remain as president of the Wine Club. Ryan, a renowned wine critic with a passion for storytelling, will have his first column appear in The Weekend Australian on Saturday, April 6.
Halliday's contributions to the Australian wine industry have been significant, with his weekly column influencing the wine choices of many Australians. "We have been so fortunate to have enjoyed James Halliday’s wisdom, knowledge and experience over all these years. The Australian wine industry has had no greater champion than James Halliday. And our readers have certainly benefited from his fine palate over the years, stocking their cellars and bar fridges with his recommendations. We wish James well with his semi-retirement," said Michelle Gunn, Editor-In-Chief of The Australian.
Halliday himself has noted the accessibility of his writing as a key factor in its success. "The most frequent face-to-face reaction to my column has very often been, 'I really like your column because I can understand it'," he said.
Ryan, who acknowledges the significant influence Halliday has had on his own career, is looking forward to building on Halliday's legacy. "I have a career as a wine writer because James Halliday, through his passion for the subject and Herculean work ethic, showed such a thing could even exist. Every wine writer in this country owes James an enormous debt. I’m genuinely humbled that I’m the one tasked with building on his forty year contribution to The Australian," he said.
Gunn has high expectations for Ryan's contributions to The Australian. "With a keen eye for detail and a passion for discovery, Nick promises to engage readers with captivating narratives that showcase the diversity and complexity of the world of wine," she said.
