THE BRADMAN OF WINES AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY GIFT TO HUMPTY
June 30, 2025
By Ray Martin AM
I call them “the sweet mysteries of life.”
What’s the Big Bang Theory all about? Why do male sea horses give birth? And how did Paul Francis talk James Halliday AM – the legendary wine king – into giving so much of his precious time and wisdom to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation?
James Halliday’s impact has been breathtaking. He’s become one of Humpty’s greatest friends.
I accept that the Humpty Founder is a silver-tongued devil and pretty persuasive. No question. But how did he win over James Halliday?
For years, Australian charities have wanted a slice of Mr Halliday’s impeccable brand name. I suspect that if James was given a bottle of Grange every time he’s been asked, his stockpile would be bigger than Penfolds’ Cellar Door at Nuriootpa.
Fortunately, in a previous life he was a highly successful corporate lawyer. James knows how to politely say “No."
In demand as a prolific writer, vigneron and international wine judge, life was much too busy for the man long regarded as “the greatest champion of the Australian wine industry." With all the accolades goes enormous responsibility, which he takes seriously.
Over the years, I have found talking about wines with James is like talking cricket with Sir Donald Bradman. The best thing is to shut up and listen – rather than make a fool of yourself by offering opinions.
James is a certain kind of man. Literally.
He told me once, he could sit with a great Pinot Noir for fifteen minutes – aged, with a full bouquet – without drinking a drop, “just gently enjoying the nose." He was serious, too.
About two decades ago, Paul Francis decided that Humpty Dinners needed some truly fine wines to go with the really fine food which had become a signature of our big fundraising events.
Paul admits that – at the time – he knew nothing about wines, especially what constituted a “truly fine wine.”
So, having never met James but having read his latest Wine Companion – on the spur of the moment – he rang Coldstream Wines in the Yarra Valley.
Mr Halliday answered the phone.
Inexplicably, after he’d stopped laughing at the naivety of the request, James agreed to put Paul in touch with a few prominent vineyards.
The rest – as they say – is Humpty Dumpty history.
Since that initial phone call in 2005, James Halliday has become a Humpty believer and ambassador. He’s hosted countless Grand Wine Tasting nights in Sydney, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each time – along with the occasional weekend soirees, wandering through his beautiful grapevines and exquisite cellar in the Yarra Valley.
Altogether, James has now raised about eight million dollars to help the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Eight million dollars, can you believe that?
He’s also used his industry contacts to freely provide a thousand bottles of Australia’s best wine every year for Humpty’s fundraising auctions and events. You can’t put a price on that.
You can only imagine what a huge difference James’ generosity has made to hospitals across Australia, along with the lives of sick children and their families.
We’re all indebted to 86-year-old James Halliday AM. What a marvellous Humpty friend, indeed.