Walsh joined Yalumba in 1988 and under his stewardship became custodian of the quintessential Australian blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Walsh also emerged as the world's most influential producer of viognier.
Chief of Judges, Peter Forrestal, said: “Brian Walsh is a natural leader who has been quietly efficient, energetic yet thoughtful and caring, and rigorous and effective in his working life as a winemaker. As Chief Winemaker at Yalumba he would take the time to make the long trek to Coonawarra to share proudly with a lone wine writer the work that he and his team were doing in the region.
"Brian Walsh has always been a man who sees the big picture: while totally devoted to his day-to-day work with Yalumba he has seen the importance of galvanising the Barossa region to encourage winemakers to push the boundaries on matters of importance, such as exploring the notion of sub-regionality. Consider the wide-ranging roles he's filled as President or Chair: at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show; with the SA Wine Industry Association; the SA Wine Tourism Board; the Barossa Winemakers Committee, Riverland Wine and now in the crucial role as Chair of Wine Australia. He's also the bloke on the Advisory Board of the Women in Wine Awards. Lucky he's retired.”
Robert Hill-Smith, Chairman of Yalumba added: “A humble, highly talented man with a lateral mind and whimsical humour who wanted to give back to the wine fraternity and has done so with gusto and success. We need more like him but they are few! He totally deserves this national recognition which celebrates his assiduous lifetime work from which others have benefited. Len Evans would be very chuffed knowing this Award has gone to “Walshy.”
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