A celebration of Western Australian wine and our outstanding regions. Join us for the 2023 WA Good Food Guide Wine Awards with a curated evening of wine and WA produce led by State Buildings Executive Chef Kim Brennan. Enjoy drinks on arrival, an awards ceremony in the magnificent Postal Hall and a very special after party at Long Chim.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR THE WAGFG 2023 WINE AWARDS NIGHT AT THE STATE BUILDINGS ON JUNE 1, 2023

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Matthew Jukes

This year’s Western Australia Good Food Guide Wine of the Year Awards sees a dynamic overhaul. A new set of awards, a shifting lens on viticulture and best practice in farming, a standalone gala event, new additions to the judging panel and international guest judge, wine communicator Matthew Jukes.

It’s our existing awards, reimagined with fresh ideas and broader recognition across the industry.

The Western Australia Good Food Guide Wine of the Year Awards is a unique and potent accolade with a broad impact, a best practice approach and celebrates the bread of WA wine growing. The awards have a strong emphasis on meeting the needs of consumers while providing a salient reference point for invested winemakers and wineries. It is a benchmark wine award that delivers a relevant, contemporary and easily digestible set of results that defines the contemporary position of WA wines across a span of local wine regions and wine styles.

As is the charter and nimble nature of the awards, this year sees an evolution with new, additional accolades folded into the program. Recognising the relevance of viticulture, winemaking, regional prowess and single sites, the WA Good Food Guide Wine Awards bolsters its Top 25 with extra bandwidth to celebrate Western Australia’s broad-reaching wine talent.

The new set of Awards includes:

+ Regional Awards that celebrate the top wine from each official wine growing area in Western Australia

+ Viticulturist Of The Year as a commitment to outstanding growing of grapes with a commitment to not only high quality wine as a result of practice, but a focus on sustainability and diversifying practices to include organic farming/better environmental practices

+ Best Emerging Producer identifying WA’s rising stars of winemaking and grape growing

+ Best Overall Producer spotlights a topflight winery of WA that distinguishes itself with not only upper echelon wine, but excellence in viticulture, progressive application of winemaking, marquee wines from the region they represent and a commitment to reflecting the betterment of WA wine generally

+ Best Winemaker looks to a winemaker who has delivered exceptional wine through their career with high quality wines judged through the tasting of the Top 25

+ Best Single Vineyard Wine celebrates significant single sites of WA and will be awarded to the highest ranked single vineyard wine in the Top 25

+ Best Experimental Wine values high quality wine made through distinct, diverse winemaking methods or styles

+ Best Certified Organic/Biodynamic Wine is an award for the highest ranked wine in the Top 25 each year that includes organic or biodynamic certification

The Top 25 gathers pace and maturity in 2023, with a strong connection to the idea that best wines are not only about style and innovation in wineries, but are made from the ground up. The broader remit of the WA Good Food Guide Wine Awards is to encourage a greater connection to vineyards, viticulture and the diversity of wine emerging from the great growing regions of WA.

A ‘silver bullet’ award will be judged on the evening of the wine awards at the State Buildings on Monday October 9th, 2023 by international guest judge Matthew Jukes (UK), as the Top 25 are tasted blind on stage.

Mike Bennie

This award is a relevant and contemporary “best-of” list, judged by a diverse and inclusive panel of respected judges. Wine journalist, presenter and retailer Mike Bennie returns as Director of Drinks and the chief judge of the wine awards.

Mike is joined once again by

  • Esteemed wine reviewer Erin Larkin (Wine Advocate et al)
  • Wine expert and highly-awarded sommelier Emma Farrelly (State Buildings)
  • 2023 WA Good Food Guide Sommelier Of The Year, Nina Throsby (Kailis Group)
  • Wine writer and raconteur Nick Ryan (The Australian)
  • Highly-awarded winemaker and expert judge Kate Goodman (Penley Estate)

As with previous years, the wines are tasted blind. Each wine is tasted several times, judged, rated, and ranked based on a matrix of factors, including complexity, interest, and deliciousness. The judges seek out wines with a distinct personality, a sense of quality, drinkability, and general uniqueness.

The panel agrees on the “best wines” through rigorous conversation, discussion, and re-tasting before ranking the wines to decide on the Top 25. This year will see the additional awards’ final adjudication take place through the Top 25 judging period.

The WA Good Food Guide Wine Award takes a professional yet modern approach to judging, prioritizing the ability of wine producers to connect with consumers through accessible, digital results that remain available permanently through WA Good Food Guide marketing channels and in our annual, free magazine. A collaborative campaign is also undertaken with independant bottle shops across the state to ensure commercial sell through of successful wines.

Additionally, an ongoing events program showcases the best wines of WA, ensuring that engagement with the wine community extends beyond the judging period and final results.

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