JAMES HALLIDAY AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION AWARDS

The 2014 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion Awards, as well as the Wine of the Year trophy, will be officially sponsored by Qantas epiQure

The gala VIP event, which will celebrate the big winners from the 2015 Australian Wine Companion, will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday July 29 at The Park, Albert Park – the night before the 2015 Companion goes on sale.

The event will see Wine Companion’s founder and author, James Halliday AM, announce the winners of six major awards, while more than $100,000 worth of the year’s best wines will be matched to a four-course degustation.

The six major awards are:

- Wine of the Year (sponsored by Qantas epiQure)

- Winery of the Year (sponsored by SMEG)

- Dark Horse Winery of the Year (sponsored by Nikon)

- Best New Winery (sponsored by Kennards Wine Storage)

- Winemaker of the Year

- Best Value Winery of the Year

In addition, the winners of the 12 varietal awards will also be announced on the night.

Qantas Loyalty Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie Tully said Qantas epiQure was delighted to be working with James Halliday Wine Companion to present this year’s awards. 

“Qantas epiQure is all about connecting our Qantas Frequent Flyer members with the best produce that Australian wineries have to offer.”

“We’re excited about partnering with esteemed winemaker James Halliday to celebrate the Australian wine industry,” she said.

For all details about the awards, visit www.winecompanion.com.au/awards

James Halliday is Australia′s most respected wine critic and writer. Formerly a partner of Clayton-Utz law firm, he went on to found Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley and later establish Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley.

James Halliday has written more than 65 books and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles on wine, winning a number of major wine writing awards in Australia and overseas. In 1995, he received Australia's most prestigious wine award – the Maurice O'Shea Award – for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Wine Industry. In 2010, James Halliday was made a Member of the Order of Australia.