Owners Alison and David Blacket came up with the novel idea of honouring rural identities by making unique port bottles from ceramic moulds of their boots 10 years ago.

Since that time they have produced a number of versions from the boots of rural Queenslanders such as former St George real estate agent Simon Southwell, Birdsville mailman Tom Kruse, legendary drover Edna Jessop and tent-boxing impresario Fred Brophy.

However one of the biggest sellers by far has been an edition created in honour of popular local Senator Barnaby Joyce. At $110 a pair, Barnaby’s boots have been walking out the door.

“He’s the number one tourist attraction here at St George, people are always asking us where he is,” David Blacket said.

“We get people of all political persuasions through here, and even the Labor people say that while they might not agree with him, they respect him because he speaks his mind.”

Barnaby’s boots come with a special inscription which reads: “Whether Barnaby has been putting his foot down, putting his best foot forward, or crossing the floor, he does it in style in a pair of RM Williams boots.”

“We tell people that the right sole is a little bit more worn than the left one from all of the times he has crossed the floor,” Mr Blacket grinned.

Riversands Winery’s Rosie Carson said the Barnaby Joyce pair, which contain 750ml of tawny port in each boot, had become even more popular since late last year when Senator Joyce helped to scuttle Federal Opposition plans to support prime minister Kevin Rudd’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

Barnaby Joyce himself managed to fetch $1800 for one edition at a National Party Fundraiser when one buyer paid $1000 for a pair and then donated the second boot back to the auction, which went on to claim a further $800.

Riversands Winery identifies a new prominent identity to honour every two years or so, and Mr Blacket said they were always on the lookout for suggestions from the public.

“We try to think of someone that is truly Australian. They’ve all got a story, they’re characters, they embody the outback spirit and they are unique individuals,” he said.

* If you can think of someone who you believe fits the criteria to be immortalised in port, drop a line with your suggestion to David and Alison at www.riversandswines .com.