Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) has today announced the finalists in the 10 categories of the 2017 Wine Communicator Awards.
Following judges feedback in 2016, this year both the ‘Best Wine Book’ and ‘Best Wine Publication’ were split in to two distinct categories, technical and trade, and consumer. A new category was also developed for Best Wine Public Relations Campaign.
15 experienced and respected wine industry professionals have been selected to judge entries in 10 of the award categories, with four panels each assessing one or two categories each.
The New Wine Writer of the Year Award is judged independently by Gourmet Traveller WINE Editor Judy Sarris, contributing Editor Huon Hooke and WCA Deputy Chair Angie Bradbury.
The overall Wine Communicator of the Year Award will then be chosen from the category winners by the WCA Board and announced at the awards night in Sydney on Wednesday 1 November 2017.
WCA Chairman Angus Barnes says, “This year’s entries showcase the outstanding quality of work consistently being produced across the wine industry. We received more than 65 entries across all 10 categories, with impressive feedback from the judges.”
The finalists for each category are:
Best Wine Public Relations Campaign (Individual or Team)
Supported by: Wine Communicators of Australia
Pernod Ricard Brand Communications Team – St Hugo Cellar Door
Primary Industries and Regions South Australia / South Australian Wine Industry Association / Brand South Australia/ South Australian Tourism Commission – Great Wine Capitals – Adelaide
Millie Friend – Liquid Ideas & Hardie Grant – 2018 Qantas Epicure Halliday Wine Companion Awards
Best Wine Publication (Technical & Trade)
Supported by: Pernod Ricard Winemakers
The Australian Wine Research Institute Technical Review – Ella Robinson
Drinks Trade – Hannah Sparks
Grape Grower & Winemaker Magazine -Elizabeth Bouzoudis
Best Wine Publication (Consumer)
Supported by: Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Explore Drinks – Hannah Sparks
Halliday Magazine – Amelia Ball
GT Wine – Judy Sarris
Best Wine Book (Consumer)
Supported by: Calabria Family Wines
Australian Wine styles and taste * people and places – Patrick Iland
Halliday Wine Companion – Simon McKeown
Wine Lovers Grape Guide – Paul Diamond
Best Wine Website / Wine App
Supported by: Wine-Searcher
eBev – Cassandra MacDonald
Henschke Wines – Justine Henschke
Taylors Wines – Miles Omodei
Best Digital Wine Communicator
Supported by: The Drinks Association
Ali Laslett
Sam Odlum
Trish Barry
Best Featured Article or Wine Column
Supported by: Treasury Wine Estates
Daniel Honan
Jeni Port
Morgan Dunn
Best Wine Educator
Supported by: Ehrenberg Bass Institute
Gill Gordon-Smith
Marcus Patz
Philip Reedman
Best New Wine Writer
Supported by: Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine
Space Invader – James Brazill-Boast
Music to my Mouth – Lloyd Heinrich
The Art of Wine Writing – Pippa Merrett
Angus continued to say; “The judges were delighted to see strong entries across each category, well presented and fascinating to read. This year we were unable to judge the Best Wine Book (Technical and Trade) category as there were none published that were eligible this year, however we look forward to continuing this category and receiving some great submissions next year.”