The Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) held its 2023 awards ceremony in Sydney last night, naming a number of award winners, including the 2023 Wine Communicator of the Year.
The WCA Awards recognise the best contributions to wine communication in all formats, with the association inviting 15 experienced and respected wine industry professionals were selected to judge the categories across a number of criteria.
Speaking about the awards and the winners, WCA Executive Chair, Angus Barnes said: “Last night’s Awards ceremony was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate excellence in communication. Whilst the wine industry is experiencing some challenges write now, the ability to communicate widely and effectively is absolutely critical.
“We wish to say a special thank you to everybody who applied in the 2023 Wine Communicator Awards. The calibre of entries continues to impress our judges. We would also like to thank our Award category sponsors for their support and commitment.
“The Awards continue to be the most important event on the annual WCA calendar, recognising as it does excellence in many different facets of wine story telling.”
The 2023 award winners are:
- Best Wine Marketing Communication Campaign (Individual or Team)
- 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
- Overall Winner, 2023 Wine Communicator of the Year
- Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross (Authors – How to Drink Australian)
Overall winner Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross’ book How to Drink Australian was described by the judges as perhaps the best example of this kind of book ever written.
The WCA added: “The fact that Jane and Jonathan are flying the flag for Australian Wine in the important US wine market is an added bonus. They possess that unique combination of education, both having passed the prestigious Master Sommelier exams, life experience, having curated fine dining wine lists in Australia and the US, before starting their own wine import business, as well as the ability to communicate and pass on that knowledge and passion.”