Vinegar Making History

After embarking on a journey through the traditional vinegar-makers of Europe, Lírah founder, Ian Henderson made it his mission to create a product that would help Australians appreciate superior quality vinegar, and that’s how Lírah was born.

Under the Lírah brand, Ian has built the finest mix of vinegar cultures, equipment, and people, to become Australia’s premier provider of gourmet vinegars for the fine-home-dining and fine-food service markets.

Today, Lírah operates from a state of the art, purpose-built factory in Stanthorpe, in Southern Queensland’s famous, Granite Belt, in an impressive, custom-built facility where thousands of litres of vinegar are produced every week.

Explore our vinegar making history.

2003

• First commercial vinegar production starts with dry vinegars in retail sizes only

2004

• First exports of retail products to the USA
• First Australian domestic sales in Queensland

2005

• First foodservice products launched in plastic 1L bottles
• Purpose-designed and built vinegar facility completed

2006

• Ian Henderson awarded prestigious Sir Winston Churchill fellowship to study vinegar making in Europe
• Verjus products added to the existing vinegar product lines
• First exports to Canada begin
• Bulk vinegar production as an ingredient for other food manufacturers begins

2007

• Sweet vinegars released to support existing dry vinegar

2008

• First exports to New Zealand commence
• Caramelised Balsamic range added to the Lirah portfolio

2010

• Major expansion to vinegar facility and new warehouse finished

2012

• Major staff expansion – new vinegar makers, dedicated quality managers and admin staff join the Lirah family

2017

• Official opening of the Australian Vinegar head office and innovation centre in Stanthorpe