Mr McGuigan devoted more than 30 years of his life to ­winemaking and started the McGuigan dynasty which his sons Brian and Neil have carried on.

Past and present winemakers will gather at Pokolbin on Sunday to celebrate Mr McGuigan’s birthday and he cannot wait to meet the people who are carrying on the winemaking ­tradition.

“In 1941 when I started in the industry there were nine winemakers in the Hunter Valley and these days there would be over 100,” he said. 

“There have been difficult situations in the industry over the years but I am confident that Hunter Valley wine will live on.

“I am proud to have been involved in the industry for as long as I was.”

Mr McGuigan began his career at Penfold’s Dalwood vineyard and then worked to fulfil the company’s quest to start a new vineyard near Muswellbrook in the 1960s. 

He left Penfolds in 1968 and bought Penfold’s Dalwood ­property which he renamed Wyndham Estate after the original owners – the Wyndhams from England.

The original vines had been pulled out in 1959 so he sold bottled wine from other vineyards at the premises and offered wine tasting.

In 1970 he sold the property and moved to Maitland. 

Mr McGuigan attributed his long life solely to luck and said drinking wine may have had something to do with it.

“I’m very lucky to have got this far, I’ve been able to shake off sickness and I’ve come through it in time for my birthday,” he said. 

The Benhome resident will be the guest of honour at a masquerade ball to

celebrate his birthday on Friday.