In a historic night in Perth on Sunday, Wines pulled away from Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli in the final round to finish on 36 votes and take home the game's highest individual honour.
His former Echuca Football Club junior teammate Clayton Oliver finished in the top three with 31 votes following a sensational season for Melbourne.
Wines’ effort on the AFL's night of nights is the joint highest Brownlow tally in the 3-2-1 format alongside Dustin Martin in 2017.
It was also the first time three players had polled more than 30 votes in the one count.
“I’m a little bit rattled,” Wines said on stage after his win.
“It was a great count; Bont is a tremendous player, and Clayton, he’s a little bit younger than me, but we played some junior footy together; I played with his brother Mitch.
“We came from the same town, so I’m sure people back in Echuca are up and about despite not being allowed in a pub.”
Heading into the count as one of the favourites, Wines undoubtedly knew he would likely be in the mix.
But it wasn’t until Wines final game - against the Bulldogs and Bontempelli, who wasn't expected to poll - that the Echuca boy realised what was about to happen.
“I imagined I would be up around the mark, but there was so many guys who had great years,” Wines said.
“The biggest thing for us tonight, is I think more than anything this is a football club award, it doesn’t take an individual, it takes a team and a club to get someone to this point.”
Regaling the crowd some tales of his childhood in Echuca, Wines shared his admiration for a fellow Murray Bombers football legend Andrew Walker.
“One of my fondest memories of him, is dad (Tony) used to be runner for Moama seniors in the Murray League and on the way back we’d stop and get a six pack and a bit of pork crackle for me, and I used to ring up Rex Hunt and ask about Andrew Walker’s stats,” he said.
“I always got through every week and Rex would tell me Andrew’s stats I was that interested.
“As a young fella from a country town like that you want to follow your idols and those guys are the best examples.”
Wines said it was an privilege to win the Brownlow Medal in honour of his family, including mother and father, Jane and Tony, along with his three siblings Maddie, Sophie and Harry.
“I’d love to be a fly on the wall back in Echuca or North Melbourne where my siblings are tonight,” he said.
“This is a credit to them and their commitment to me.”
Wines also thanked partner Olivia May, who he credited for much of his success this year.
The win bookends a career-best year for Wines, who averaged 32 touches and was a driving influence in the Port engine room as they made this year’s Preliminary Final.
Team success remains the key driver for Wines, who said he and his teammates were as hungry as ever to reach next year’s grand final.
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