The new Maurice O’Shea Award trophy inspired by Mount Pleasant Wines’ new brand design. Image courtesy of Australian Wine Industry Awards
The Australian Wine Industry Awards returns for 2025, continuing in partnership with McWilliam’s Wines and Mount Pleasant Wines to present both the Maurice O’Shea Award and McWilliam’s Wines Excellence in Action Award.
This year marks the 35th anniversary since the founding of the Maurice O’Shea Award in 1990 by the McWilliam family to pay homage to Mount Pleasant’s legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea. Both awards will be presented at the exclusive Australian Wine Industry Awards ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall on 20 July.
The Maurice O’Shea Award recognises an individual, group, or organisation for their incredible service or contribution to the sector through winemaking, cultivation, innovation and technology.
“We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Maurice O’Shea Award for its 35th year in 2025. Maurice O’Shea was a man who devoted his efforts to the craft of making exceptional quality Australian wine and this award reflects that sentiment to honour an individual or group making a significant impact on our wonderful industry today,” chief winemaker for Mount Pleasant Wines, Adrian Sparks said.
“Mount Pleasant is proud to continue to honour Maurice O’Shea and his enduring legacy to the Australian wine industry by presenting this award in collaboration with the Calabria family.”
The McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award will return for its second year to acknowledge an individual, group or organisation that has made a significant impact in the face of the numerous challenges currently facing the Australian wine industry.
“The McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award shines a light on the many challenges currently facing the wine sector and the individuals or bodies who are striving to overcome these obstacles for the greater good of the Australian wine industry,” third-generation sales and marketing director for Calabria Family Wine Group, Andrew Calabria, said.
“McWilliam’s Wines has had its fair share of challenges in its 148-year history, but the family’s perseverance and commitment to the industry are what, to me, stand out over those many years, and we feel this award is an important way to honour their legacy.”
The last awards were presented in 2022, which was the first edition held under the Australian Wine Industry Awards banner. It also followed a change of ownership to both Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s Wines in 2021 by the Medich Family Office and Calabria Family Wine Group, respectively, which saw the two work together to honour the distinguished awards and bring the industry program into a new era.
In 2022, the Maurice O’Shea Award was presented to Pamela Dunsford OAM, recognising her 40-year-plus contribution to the industry as a trailblazer for women in wine. Dunsford was the first woman admitted to study Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College before she spent 19 vintages at Chapel Hill where she was also the first female wine show judge. The McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award was presented to the Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA) for their dedicated focus on championing the work of women in the Australian wine community.
Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s have brought together industry body leaders, journalists, winemakers and representatives from Mount Pleasant, McWilliam’s Wines and Calabria Family Wines to form a judging committee for this year’s awards. The committee will confer to select the nominees for each award. Members of the Australian wine industry are welcome to submit a nomination for either award for the committee to consider by submitting a nomination form on the AWIA website.
“The conferral process aims to ensure the two awards remain true to their reputation as the highest honour afforded to a member of the wine industry. We are excited to bring together this selection of respected and experienced wine professionals to nominate the finest candidates for these awards,” Sparks continued.
The Australian Wine Industry Awards, presented by Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s Wines, will take place at the Adelaide Town Hall on 20 July. A very limited number of tickets to the special dinner ceremony will be made available through the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference program, to be announced in March. The names of the winners will be announced that evening and via media release the following day.
Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s Wines are pleased to welcome the following industry representatives as judges of the 2025 Australian Wine Industry Awards:
- Phil Ryan, Ambassador, Mount Pleasant Wines
- Doug McWilliam, past chairman, McWilliam’s Wines and 5th generation industry family member
- Sally Evans, Director, Len Evans Tutorial
- Louisa Rose, Head of Winemaking, Yalumba and Hills Smith Family Vineyards
- Bill Calabria AM, Director and Winemaker, Calabria Family Wine Group
- Mark Krstic, Managing Director, Australian Wine Research Institute
- Lee McLean, Chief Executive, Australia Grape & Wine
- Jane Faulkner, independent wine journalist
More information about the Australian Wine Industry Awards can be found HERE.
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