Established in 2003, LiraH is located in the Granite Belt of Queensland and is one of the largest and most innovative vinegar factories in Australia. Every kitchen needs vinegar in one form or another and we couldn’t go past this great company owned and operated by the Henderson family. Ian, Robyn and children, Liam and Anna, as a family contribute to the finest vinegar produced in Australia. Ian, self-described “acid dealer” creates an exceptional range of savoury, sweet and balsamic vinegars and verjus to food service and retailers Australia wide.
The LiraH story begins with Robyn’s family who are 3rd generation Italian immigrants. Vinegar is part of the natural mix of wine, food, and friends that Italian culture is famous for and so, like all good Italian families, they started a vinegar barrel to make their own wine vinegar. The vinegar barrel was started in 1969, the same year Ian was born. The vinegar barrels were maintained, and used by the family for 35 years before Ian was granted custodianship to begin a professional vinegar making enterprise.
All the red wine vinegars that are made come from the original vinegar culture, known as “The Mother” derived from the original family vinegar barrels.
In 2006 Ian was awarded the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship for vinegar making, an achievement that no other Australian has had to this day.