Two leading figures in Australian wine were recognised at the Australian Wine Industry Awards, held at the Adelaide Town Hall last night.
Wine commentator, historian and Master of Wine Andrew Caillard received the 2025 Maurice O’Shea Award, while viticulturist and vineyard consultant Dylan Grigg took home the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award for his work in the study and preservation of Australia’s old vines.
Caillard MW, known for his promotion of Australian wine over the last four decades, was acknowledged for his authorship of several influential titles including The Australian Ark, Penfolds: The Rewards of Patience, The Vintage Journal, and seven editions of the Langtons Classification of Australian Wine.
“I would like to pay tribute to the so many colleagues and friends, past and present, who have made a wonderful difference to our cause for Australian wine and the Australian wine community,” Caillard said during his acceptance.
“Working with the Australian Wine industry has been a great privilege. We truly belong to a great cause and something that all generations of Australians – young and old – should be proud of.”
“I am very honoured to receive the prestigious Maurice O’Shea Award. Hopefully this will be seen as being symbolic; that working in wine is a vocation – not a job – and that making a difference of some sort takes time, requires patience and demands collaboration with others.”
Mount Pleasant Wines Chief Winemaker Adrian Sparks said: “Andrew’s dedication to researching and championing the Australian wine industry is truly admirable. His work has played a defining role in elevating its reputation on the global stage. We are honoured to present him with the Maurice O’Shea Award in recognition of his significant contribution.”
The McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award, established by Calabria Family Wine Group, recognises individuals or organisations addressing critical industry challenges. This year’s award was presented to Grigg, whose viticultural career has focused on advancing sustainable practices and research into vine age and quality.
“I’ve had some wonderful mentors in my career, a couple of which are in this room,” Grigg said. “I thank them all and my current colleagues for my career journey to date. This award recognises excellence in action, and for me that action has always been driven by curiosity and learning. Learning to care for vines and the land to produce a great product we can share and enjoy that brings people together.”
“This is an industry and a room full of passion and it’s something that I’m very proud and grateful to be a part of. This award goes out to all the viticulturists out there. It’s for the recognition that healthy vines and long lived vines are important to this industry.”
Grigg began his career in the Barossa Valley and later studied viticulture at the University of Adelaide. He has worked across Victoria and New Zealand, and in 2008 founded Meristem Viticulture, which combines scientific research with practical vineyard management. His PhD focused on vine age and its impact on grape and wine quality. He now runs Vinya Vella, a Barossa-based label specialising in old vine Grenache.
Andrew Calabria, Sales and Marketing Director of Calabria Family Wine Group, said: “Old vines are a valuable aspect of our Australian winemaking industry symbolising our rich viticultural history and high-quality wines. Dylan Grigg’s ever-enduring work in protecting and advocating for these treasures is incredibly important and encompasses the spirit of the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award which we are so proud to present to him.”
Recipients of both awards were selected through a conferral process involving past winners, representatives from industry bodies, media and senior personnel from Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s.
The awards were announced during a formal dinner that brought together producers, media, and industry representatives. Wines from Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s were served during the event.