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.

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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.