Gago named a Legend of the Vine

Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago AC was today named the 2025 South Australian 'Legend of the Vine' at the 2025 Royal Adelaide Wine & Spirits Awards lunch.

The award is presented by Wine Communicators of Australia to recognise a South Australian who is of excellent character, who is held in high regard by their peers in the world of wine, and who has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry. 

“Peter Gago is an outstanding Legend of the Vine, having carried the message on the quality of Australian wine to the world,” the WCA said. 

“For decades he has upheld and grown esteem for Penfolds Grange with critics and connoisseurs and by association provided a halo effect on Australian, and in particular, South Australian wine.

“In 2017 he became the first Australian wine figure to be appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his service and contribution to the Australian wine Industry. The following year he symbolically was appointed a Doctor of the University (DUniv) of The University of South Australia.

 “His biography shows his deep commitment and loyalty to the Penfolds brand, a 36-year veteran and chief winemaker since 2002. While steadfast and dedicated to upholding the style of Penfold’s highly sought-after wines, he reveals flashes of an avant-garde nature with bold initiatives such as the Ampoule, g3, and most recently the Grange X La Chapelle Syrah/Shiraz blend. 

“His winemaking credentials are impeccable, and he has received recognition nationally and internationally with almost every ‘Winemaker of the Year’ award that exists on the planet.”

WCA National Chair Lynda Schenk said, “We are thrilled to acknowledge Peter Gago with the 2025 South Australian Legend of the Vine award. This is a story of a local hero who has long been recognised the world over for his incredible achievements and this occasion may well mark the first formal honour in his home city of Adelaide.

 “Over the years, Peter has received numerous awards for his winemaking expertise. With this award, WCA acknowledges his incredible skill as a wine communicator. He is a wonderful storyteller, and highly charismatic in conversation, regardless of the topic. 

"He is generous with his knowledge which he delivers with humility and warmth. His ability to engage people with compelling authenticity has undoubtedly contributed equally to Penfold’s success as his skill as a winemaker, which is also considerable.”

Gago said he was honoured.

“Wherever I travel in the world, there’s nothing better than the feeling of arriving home” he said. 

Driving up to my office at Magill Estate and greeted by a vineyard established in 1844 just feels right. I feel similarly moved about being named the 2025 South Australian Legend of the Vine and I thank Wine Communicators for considering me among the many worthy individuals that work in our industry.”   
 
Peter Gago AC is the eleventh South Australian to receive the SA Legend of the Vine Award. He joins a list that includes Prue Henschke, Jane Ferrari, Peter Hayes, Brian Croser AO, Pam Dunsford, Tony Love, Brian Walsh, d’Arry Osborne, Bill Hardy OAM, and Dr Patrick Iland OAM (with whom Peter has co-written four books on wine), all of whom are lifetime members of WCA.

Wine industry icon honoured

One of the leading figures in the Australian wine industry was recognised by his peers today - and named a Legend of the Vine.  

Alister Purbrick from Tahbilk was named a Victorian Legend of the Vine in front of a large crowd of his wine industry associates at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards Lunch. 

The award recognises his lasting contribution to the industry.

His roles have included president of the Winemakers Federation (1999-2001, now called Australian Grape & Wine), being the inaugural chairman of Australia’s First Family of Wines (2006-2010). 

He was given the Len Evans Wine Industry Leadership Award in 2012 and has been chief executive of his family-owned wine business, Tahbilk Group, since 1978. He stepped down as CEO last year. 

He helped make Tahbilk one of the most environmentally sustainable wine producers in the world.

“Alister has played an integral role in the Australian wine industry for so many years," said WCA national executive chairman Angus Barnes. 

"He has helped shape the industry at many different levels and the fact that he continues to give his time to organisations like Australian Grape and Wine shows his true passion and dedication to Australia’s wine industry. 

"Alister is well known throughout the industry and today’s award will be celebrated across the country.”

Purbrick is the seventh person to be awarded Legend of the Vine status in Victoria, and the first since 2019, joining a national list that includes the likes of Ross Brown, Jeni Port, Brian Croser AO, Pam Dunsford, Tony Love, Brian Walsh, the late d’Arry Osborn, and Steve Flamsteed.

Multi-faceted Riley honoured as "Legend of the Vine"

Multi-talented viticulturist, board director and wine educator Liz Riley was today honoured with the prestigious Legend of the Vine Award at the Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy Winners Lunch.

Riley was honoured for her years of contribution to the Australian wine industry at many levels.

She said that she was “honoured and humbled” by the recognition.

Riley has contributed to the industry as a leading viticulturist but also as a member of several industry boards, including the Australian Wine Research Institute, Freshcare, and Landcare NSW.

More recently, she has added another string to her bow, by becoming an educator through Tocal College in NSW - a leader in full-time and part-time agricultural courses, short courses and distance education - passing on her skills in pests and diseases, pruning and biosecurity.

WIne Communicators of Australia executive chair Angus Barnes said: "WCA is delighted to be able to honour Liz’s many contributions to the wine industry.

"Liz often works quietly behind the scenes, but her contribution is long and lasting.

"During the terrible bushfires and smoke events of the 2020 vintage, Liz worked tirelessly to ensure that NSW producers and growers could get their grapes and wine tested for smoke damage. This led to businesses being able to make much better decisions about how to treat that particularly difficult season. For this work, she was given the 2021 Award for Excellence by the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.

"Liz has been further recognised for her outstanding contribution to the NSW Wine industry by being the first-ever female recipient of the NSW DPI Graham Gregory Award in 2020, as well as being named the viticulturist of the year by the Wine Magazine 2022, the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) in 2017 and the Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association in 2011.

She has held a number of positions in the wine industry, but is best known in her viticulture consultancy business, Vitibit, which has been in operation since 2000.

Riley is the 11th person to be awarded Legend of the Vine status in NSW, and joins a list that includes Andrew Caillard MW, Sandra Przibilla, Lyndey Milan, Huon Hooke, Clive Hartley, Iain Riggs, Rob Hirst and David Lowe.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW oversaw four days of judging almost 1,700 wines by 31 judges under the guidance of chair of judges Sarah Crowe.

But they did not, as their press release stated, "select the top drops of Australian wine".

They selected the wines they preferred from those that were entered and shone at this particular time. Many wineries do not enter wine shows, others cannot afford the expense.

A reminder here: https://www.gourmetontheroad.com/2016/10/what-exactly-does-those-gold-stickers.html

Legendary palate acknowledged

Wine industry veteran Andrew Caillard MW was today named a "Legend of the Vine" at the Sydney Royal Wine Show trophy winners lunch.

Caillard was honoured for his years of contribution to the Australian wine industry as a writer, judge, consultant, winemaker and film maker, among his many roles.

He said he was “honoured and humbled” by the recognition.

Caillard has worked to building the industry as an auctioneer, commentator and international advocate for Australian wine.

WCA executive officer Andrew Stark said of the announcement: “WCA is delighted to be able to honour Andrew’s many contributions to the wine industry. We all know his work with Langton’s, with the Penfolds Rewards of Patience program, his contributions to the industry as a judge, writer, and advocate.

"He was also the driving force behind the Red Obsession and Blind Ambition movies, and has provided countless hours of unheralded work assisting wineries improve their businesses.”

Caillard is a Roseworthy graduate, as well as the winner of the prestigious Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in wine tasting in the course of graduating as a Master of Wine.

He founded Langton’s Sydney and continues to be involved in the business. He stays involved with his auctioneering past by running the Barossa auction events, as well as continuing to write, commentate and promote wines.

He is the 10th person to be awarded Legend of the Vine status in NSW, and joins a list that includes Sandra Przibilla, Lyndey Milan, Huon Hooke, Clive Hartley, Iain Riggs, Rob Hirst and David Lowe.