Wine Communicator Awards
The annual WCA Wine Communicator Awards recognise outstanding contribution to, and excellence in, wine communication in all its forms.
In each category, a short list of finalists is reviewed and selected by the panel of expert judges. A winner is then chosen in consultation with the WCA Board. The overall Wine Communicator of the Year is then awarded from the category winners. Previous winners have included Andrea Frost, Barossa Grape & Wine Association, Gill Gordon-Smith, Jeni Port, Judy Sarris, Katie Spain, Max Allen, Oliver’s Taranga, Trish Barry and Tyson Stelzer.
The 2024 Winners have just been announced. To read all about it click on the link to the right under ‘announcements’.
Award categories
To view the entry criteria, click on the individual award categories below.
- Best Wine Marketing Communications Campaign
- Best Digital Communication
- Best Social Media Communication
- Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column
- Best Innovative Packaging
- Best Wine Book
- Best Winery Website
- Best Wine-themed Event
- Best Wine Communicator – Cellar Door
- Best Wine Education Provider
- Best Wine Student
Announcements
Key 2024 Dates
Entries Opened: 28 June 2024
Entries Closed: Extended to 9 August 2024
Finalists Announced: mid September 2024
Awards Ceremony: 20 November 2024
Judging Panels
A big Thank You to the panels of independent industry experts who judge these awards. In 2024 we were fortunate to have the following people involved in the nominations review process and selection of finalists:
BEST WINE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN
- Francesca Gallucci, Director Liquid Ideas
- Leesa Mealing, Marketing Manager Thomas Wines
- Marianne Duluk, Department of Trade & Investment (Wine)
BEST DIGITAL COMMUNICATION & BEST SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION
- Brian Chase Olson, Director Blend PR
- Lynda Schenk, MD Purple Giraffe
- Priscilla Hennekam, MD Hennekam Wine Consultancy
BEST FEATURED ARTICLE OR WINE COLUMN
- Celia Le Galiard, Brand Activation Executive, Handpicked Wines & House of Arras
- Georgina McCalpin, Wine Club Manager, Briar Ridge Vineyard
- Nicolas Williams, Operations Manager Hungerford Hill Cellar Door
- Sally Evans, Council Member Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
BEST WINERY WEBSITE AND BEST WINE COMMUNICATOR: CELLAR DOOR
- Amanda Whiteland, CEO, Margaret River Wine Association
- Elia Lom, Director Tracado
- Kip McMillan, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing, Brunch Agency
BEST WINE-THEMED EVENT
- Yvonne Lorkin, dish magazine + WineFriend
- Francesca Harding, Head of Communications Casella Family Brands
- Shirley Fraser, GM Customer Engagement Wine Australia
BEST INNOVATIVE PACKAGING
- Alex Gibbs, CEO Smile Marketing
- Angus Barnes, Executive Chair Wine Communicators of Australia
- Trish Barry, MD Mastermind Consulting
BEST NEW WINE BOOK
- Gill Gordon-Smith, Wine Education Consultant
- Paul Henry, Strategy Director – Winehero
- Robin Shaw, Founder & lead Consultant – Wine Tourism Australia
BEST WINE STUDENT AND BEST WINE EDUCATOR
- Jo Hargreaves, Senior Program Manager Wine Australia
- Marni Cook, Marni Cook Leadership Development & Executive Education
- Caroline Bailey, Sales and Marketing Manager Mike Press Wines
We thank all our judges for their time and expertise.
An Extra-Special Thank You to our 2024 Award Partners
Testimonials
“It’s an exciting year for Australian wine with a handful of great new books either already out or in the works. Hopefully this helps the rest of the world see the true level that Australia is working at.”
“There’s never been a more exciting time to drink Australian wine…and it is perhaps the most exciting country in the world to be drinking from right now.”
“We are thrilled to have our incredible cellar door team recognised for the fabulous work that they do at the forefront of wine communication, face-to-face with the guests that visit our cellar door and many like ours all around the Australia, day in day out. The wine, region and people stories they share at the cellar door and the experience they provide stays in the hearts and minds of our guests long after they leave the venue. Congratulations to our team and to all cellar door staff around the country telling stories and sharing wine.”
The last few years have been a rollercoaster for everyone so to be named Wine Communicator of the Year during a global pandemic was humbling and just the non-Covid-related booster I needed. Honestly, I’m still pinching myself.
To be recognised for telling heartfelt stories made it all worthwhile. The award made the fire in this writer’s belly (and fingertips) burn stronger. Thank you.
2020 certainly was a year where digital lead communication came to the forefront to connect with our audiences, so in what will go down as a memorable year for all it was an absolute honour to be named WCA Communicator of the Year along with Digital Wine Communicator. WCA has been such a critical part of my wine community for nearly two decades now, so it was even more sentimental to be recognised in this forum for the work that we do for our Mastermind Clients to tell their amazing stories and the involvement we have with the broader community. Thank you for such an honour.
“Accepting WCA Wine Communicator of the Year on behalf of the Barossa wine community was an incredible honour. This award and the prestigious company in which we now belong, is a great source of pride for BGWA and Barossa’s wine community as a whole. It is a fantastic acknowledgement of the spirit and power of collaboration and Barossa as a region.”
As well as being a personal honour, it was a huge vote of confidence in good old-fashioned print media storytelling. In a world increasingly dominated by short-attention-span digital content, it’s gratifying to know that readers still value longer-form journalism about the issues and the history and the people that make the world of wine so endlessly fascinating.
The WCA Award has given me a louder voice in the wine world and the chance to get out there, to tell the stories that make Australian wine so special, not only in Australia but internationally. As a woman in the wine industry this opportunity is an important one. I am honoured to be involved in selecting the next winners and encourage everyone to apply.
“We have always been full of admiration for the WCA initiatives to improve and encourage excellence in all forms of communication about wine.
The team at GT WINE is absolutely thrilled and amazed to have won Wine Communicator of the Year 2016. We are very honoured to share this prestigious accolade with all the talented people who contribute to both the print and digital versions of the magazine.”
“Wine Communications Australia is a unifying force in the diverse and dynamic world of wine communication, a significant and vital link that facilitates collaboration, accountability and excellence.”
“The list of previous winners is impressive for the quality and breadth of wine knowledge on display, and their ability to communicate to a wide audience. Joining them was a great personal honour. The award is highly sought after.”
Past Wine Communicator Award Winners
Since its inception in 2013 the annual Wine Communicators Award series has acted as an industry benchmark and a coveted prize for all in the wine industry. Congratulations to all the past winners, as listed below.
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross
- Best Wine Marketing Communications Campaign – Liquid Luxury by Stanton & Killeen
- Best Wine Blog or Podcast – Wine with Meg + Mel Podcast
- Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column – Tom Kline
- Best Serial Wine Publication – The Quinta Quarterly by Stanton & Killeen
- Best New Wine Book – How to drink Australian by Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross
- Best Wine-themed Event – Pinot Noir Celebration Australia 2023
- Best Wine Communicator – Cellar Door – Jodhi Thoms, Elderton Wines
- Best Wine Educator – Robin Shaw, Wine Tourism Australia
- Best Wine Student – Cassidy Shaw, The University of Adelaide
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Oliver’s Taranga Cellar Door Host Team
- Best Wine Marketing Communications Campaign – Barossa Australia – The Barossa It’s Just Us Campaign
- Best Wine Blog or Podcast – Wine with Meg + Mel Podcast
- Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column – Lisa Cardelli
- Best New Wine Book – The Wine Producers: A Taste of Barossa and A Taste of McLaren Vale published by BudMedia and written by Katie Spain
- Best Wine Website or App – Margaret River Wine Guide by Margaret River Wine Association
- Best Wine-themed Event – Margaret River Fine Fines Festival
- Best Wine Communicator – Cellar Door – Oliver’s Taranga Cellar Door Host Team
- Best Wine Educator – Cynthia Genus, Yalumba Wines
- Best Wine Student – Karlee Cook, The University of Adelaide
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Katie Spain, Wine Writer
- Best Wine Marketing Communications Campaign – Taylors Wines’ mission to save the seahorses / Blend Public Relations & Common Venture
- Best Wine Blog or Podcast – James Atkinson, Drink Adventures
- Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column – Katie Spain
- Best Wine Serial Publication – Wine Business Solutions for The Wine Paper
- Best New Wine Book – Soul Publishing for ‘Wine, Beer & Spirits of the Fleurieu’ by Rojina McDonald
- Best Wine Website or App – Wine Australia for Australian Wine CONNECT
- Best Wine-themed Event – Henschke and Hutton Vale Farm for Vino Camino
- Best Wine Communicator – Cellar Door – Rebecca Barr, Fernfield Wines
- Best Wine Educator – Dr Rebecca Dolan, The University of Adelaide
- Best Wine Student – Ruchira Ranaweera, The University of Adelaide
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Trish Barry, Mastermind Consulting
- Best Wine Public Relations Campaign (individual or team) – Taylor Made Wines and Blend PR
- Best Wine Publication (technical or trade) – Recognition of Excellence – Grapegrower & Winemaker Magazine
- Best Wine Publication (consumer) – Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Best Wine Book (consumer) – Intoxicating- Ten Drinks that Shaped Australia by Max Allen
- Best Wine Website or App – Australian Wine Discovered
- Best Digital Wine Communicator – Trish Barry, Mastermind Consulting
- Best Featured Articles or Wine Columns – Max Allen
- Best Wine Student – Haylee Butler, The University of Adelaide
- Best Wine Educator – TAFE SA Wine and Spirits School
- Best New Wine Writer – Zachary Phillips
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Barossa Grape & Wine Association
- Best Wine Public Relations Campaign (individual or team) – Barossa Grape & Wine Association
- Best Wine Publication (technical or trade) – Wine & Viticulture Journal
- Best Wine Publication (consumer) – Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Best Wine Book (consumer) – The Highly Improbable Audacious Adventures of Wirra Wirra 1894 -2019
- Best Wine Website/App – Barossa Grape & Wine Association
- Best Digital Wine Communicator – Jane Thomson, The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society
- Best Featured Article or Wine Column – Nick Ryan
- Best Wine Student – Emily Palmer, The University of Adelaide
- Best Wine Educator – Armando Maria Corsi
- Best New Wine Writer – The Four Seasons by Stuart Smith
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Max Allen
- Best Wine Public Relations Campaign (individual or team) – Taylors Wines
- Best Wine Publication (technical or trade) – Wine Australia RD&E News
- Best Wine Publication (consumer) – Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Best Wine Book (consumer) – Hunter Wine: A history – Julie McIntyre & John Germov
- Best Wine Website/App – eBev
- Best Digital Wine Communicator – Dan Sims – REVEL Global
- Best Featured Article or Wine Column – Max Allen
- Best Wine Educator – Kerry Wilkinson – The University of Adelaide
- Best New Wine Writer – Kirsty Petrides -The Greek Sparkling You Need to Know About
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Gill Gordon-Smith
- Best Wine Public Relations Campaign (individual or team) – Pernod Ricard Brand Communications Team : St Hugo Cellar Door
- Best Wine Publication (technical or trade) – Elizabeth Bouzoudis : Grape Grower & Winemaker Magazine
- Best Wine Publication (consumer) – Judy Sarris : Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Best Wine Book (consumer) – Patrick Iland : Australian Wine style and taste* people and places
- Best Wine Website/App – Justine Henschke : Henschke Wines
- Best Digital Wine Communicator – Ali Laslett : Winemakers Federation of Australia
- Best Featured Article or Wine Column – Morgan Dunn
- Best Wine Educator – Gill Gordon-Smith
- Best New Wine Writer – Pippa Merrett : The Art of Wine Writing
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Judy Sarris
- Digital Wine Communicator of the Year – Jane Thomson
- Best New Wine Writer Award – Josh Martin
- Best Published Feature Articles or Wine Column – Ben Canaider
- Best Wine Educator Award – Jenny Polack
- Best Wine Publication of the Year (trade, technical or consumer) – Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Best Wine Book (trade, technical and consumer) – Tipsy
- Best Wine Website or Wine App – Gourmet Traveller WINE
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Tyson Stelzer
- Digital Wine Communicator of the Year – Tyson Stelzer
- Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine New Wine Writer Award – Tony Anisimoff
- Best Wine Publication (trade or consumer) – Alquimie
- Best Wine Book – Vintage Tasmania, by Tony Walker
- Best Wine Website or App – Gourmet Traveller WINE (digital)
- Best Trade or Technical Wine Writer – Richard Smart
- Best Published Feature Articles or Wine Column – Max Allen
- Best Wine Educator – Wine101x (University of Adelaide)
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Jeni Port
- Digital Communicator of the Year – Cake Wines
- Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine New Wine Writer Award – Charley May
- Best Wine Publication (trade or consumer) – James Halliday’s Wine Companion Magazine
- Best Wine Book – The Champagne Guide 2014-15 by Tyson Stelzer
- Best Wine Website or App – Vinomofo
- Best Trade or Technical Wine Writer – Cathy Howard
- Best Single Feature Article or Wine Column – Last of his Generation, Jeni Port
- Wine Communicator of the Year – Andrea Frost
- Digital Communicator of the Year – Jane Thomson, Fabulous Ladies Wine Society
- Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine New Wine Writer Award – Greg Plowes
- Best Wine Publication (trade or consumer) – Through a Sparkling Glass: An A-Z of the Wonderland of Wine, by Andrea Frost
- Best Wine Website or App – McWilliam’s Wine Group
- Best Trade or Technical Wine Writer – Tyson Stelzer
- Best Single Feature Article or Wine Column – Dulcie’s Vineyard, Campbell Mattinson
