Nominations for the 2025 Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) Awards for Excellence are now open with the inclusion of a new category recognising emerging talent.
The ‘Emerging Talent of the Year’ award recognises individuals who are early in their wine career and are demonstrating exceptional potential to make significant contributions to the industry.
Eligible recipients will have already made notable accomplishments in their wine-related field, despite having less than 10 years’ work experience or being within five years of completing their PhD.
Andy Clarke, President of the ASVO said the new category represents a focus on highlighting the next generation wine industry leaders.
“In tough times, such as those being faced by the wine sector at the moment, it’s vital to focus on the future and to encourage young people to have positive career aspirations in the wine industry. It’s imperative we engage and acknowledge emerging talent, or risk losing them to other agribusinesses,” he said.
“ASVO’s Emerging Talent award complements other programs aimed at developing our up-and-coming wine sector professionals, including the Rootlings National Youth Network, Wine Australia’s Future Leaders Program, and Wine Communicators of Australia’s Wine Industry Mentor Program. It’s a culmination of industry-led effort to invest in, and recognise, the people who will lead our industry in the decades to come.”
The new award category joins existing excellence awards which include ‘Winemaker of the Year’, ’Viticulturist of the Year’ and ‘Wine Science and Technology Award’.
All individuals, wine regions and industry organisations are encouraged to submit nominations for the awards. Nominations can be made via the ASVO website and close on 30 June 2025 with all award winners announced at a gala dinner in November.
This follows ASVO’s April announcement of its new next gen scholarship program which will give $1000 to five people in the early stages of their wine-sector career, helping them build their industry knowledge and make connections through mentor programs, work placements, courses, workshops and seminars.
Applications for the scholarship will close on 31 May.