Andrew Caillard named this year's Legend of the Vine

At the 2022 Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy Winners Lunch on Friday, Master of Wine Andrew Caillard was honoured for his years of contribution to the Australian wine industry and named the 2022 Legend of the Vine.

Mr Caillard said that he was “honoured and humbled” by the recognition and his friend Iain Riggs said that had he not emigrated to Australia from the UK, the Australian landscape would not be what it is today.

WCA Executive Officer Andrew Stark (pictured above with Mr Caillard) said "We all know his work with Langton’s, with the Penfolds Rewards of Patience programme, 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."

Mr Caillard has contributed to building the industry as an auctioneer, writer, commentator, wine show judge, and international advocate for Australian wine.

The diminutive DJ Kearney (pictured below right) was a compelling keynote speaker who had worked alongside the Chair of Judges, Sarah Crowe (at right) from the prize winning Yarra Yering as well as many other judges and exceptional wine stewards during the judging process. The two made for a formidable team in a contest that saw the following wines judged winners, including:

• Wine of Show, Best White and winning Chardonnay: 2021 Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay
• Sparkling White: Printhie Swift NV Cuvee Brut
• Best Current Vintage White: 2022 Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon
• Best Mature White: 2013 Tyrell's VAT 1 Semillon
• Sauvignon Blanc: 2022 Evans & Tate Wild Cape
• Pinot Gris: 2022 Howard Vineyard
• Riesling: 2017 Grant Burge The Vigneron Reserve
• Other Wine Varietal: 2022 Artwine Wicked Stepmother Fiano
• White Blend: 2021 Xanadu Wines Circa 77 Sauvignon Blanc Semillion
• Sweet Wine: Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling
• Pinot Noir: 2021 Hardys Eileen Hardy Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Fermoy Estate 2019 Fermoy Reserve
• Grenache: 2021 Hentley Farm The Old Legend Grenache
• Best Other Red Varietal: 2021 Hardys Tintara Temperanillo
• Cabernet Dominant Blend: 2021 Devils Lair Honeycomb Cabernet Malbec
• Shiraz: Shingleback 2019 The Gate Shiraz
• Best Other Red Blend: Shingleback 2021 Davey Estate Temperanillo Touriga
• Best Mature Red: 2017 McGuigan Personal Reserve Vanessa Vale Shiraz

Ms Kearney's advice to winemakers included the suggestion: "Look to the difference between bronze and silver. That is where the hard work is. The Golds announce themselves."

Ms Kearney is a seasoned wine judge. She praised Australia's the succession plan that is inhere to Australia's wine judging culture which seeks to nurture the next generation of judges so there is a continuous line of expertise. Ms Kearney said that this culture of learning inspired her to strive for the same in Canada where she has developed a program that helps develop and mentor its next generation of judges.

Congratulations to the judges, stewards, winners and organisers of the event but especially, congratulations to the winemakers that are making wines that, as Ms Kearney said, "Wines to talk over and to talk about".