Wine Communicator of the Year 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 WCA Board. The overall Wine Communicator of the Year is then chosen from the category winners. Previous winners have included Gourmet Traveller Wine, Tyson Stelzer, Jeni Port, Huon Hooke, Jane Ferrari, James Halliday and Campbell Mattinson.

Awards are announced and presented at a gala event in November of each year.

2017 Wine Communicator of the Year Awards

Nominations for the 2017 Wine Communicator of the Year Awards are CLOSED.

The annual WCA Wine Communicator of the Year Awards recognise outstanding contribution to, and excellence in, wine communication in all its forms.

This is the fifth year we have run the awards in an expanded format covering everything from print to digital and they really are going from the strength to strength.

This year we will be offering a record TEN awards.

Select the category below for entry information and online application form.

The 2017 Wine Communicator of the Year Awards important dates are:

Entries Close: Now Closed
Finalists Announced: 16 October 2017
Awards Ceremony: 1 November 2017

As in previous years the Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony held in Sydney, proudly sponsored by Riedel Australia.

 

WCA Awards Judges:

Best Wine Book (technical and trade) – Award partner Calabria Family Wines
Best Wine Book (consumer) – Award partner Calabria Family Wines
Best Wine Publication (technical and trade) – Award partner Pernod Ricard Wines
Best Wine Publication (consumer) – Award partner Pernod Ricard Wines

  • Katherine Candy, National Wine Specialist, Pernod Ricard Wines
  • Milton Wordley, Photographer – Milton Wordley
  • Phil Reedman, Master of Wine – Phil Reedman MW Pty

Best Digital Wine Communicator of the Year – Award partner The Drinks Association
Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column – Award partner Treasury Wine Estates
Best Wine Website or Wine App – Award partner Wine-Searcher

  • David Roe, winemaker and filmmaker – Final Cut Wines and Grand Bay Films
  • Ken Chan, Senior Digital Strategist – Dig+Fish
  • Simone Phillips, Head Designer – Wine-Searcher

Best Wine Educator – Award partner Ehrenberg Bass Institute

  • Carolyn Coon, Director Corporate Communications – Treasury Wine Estates
  • Ella Robinson, Communications Manager – AWRI
  • Anne Duncan, Program Manager Industry Employment Initiative – Social Ventures Australia

NEW Category!! Best Wine Public Relations (individual or team) – Supported by Wine Communicators Australia

  • Angus Barnes, Chair – Wine Communicators of Australia
  • Judy Sarris, Editor – Gourmet Traveller WINE
  • Toni Carlino, Wine Marketing and PR Consultant – Vigneto Consulting
“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.”

Judy Sarris, Gourmet Traveller WINE, 2016 Wine Communicator of the Year
“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.”
Tyson Stelzer, , 2015 Wine Communicator of the Year

“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.”

Jeni Port, 2014 Wine Communicator of the Year
Previous Wine Communicator of the Year Award Winners

Since its inception in 2013 the annual Wine Communicators Awards has acted as an industry benchmark and a coveted prize for all in the wine industry. Winners of the Awards in previous years are detailed below.

  • 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