AWARDS NIGHT: The 2023 WA Good Food Guide Wine Celebration featuring a Q&A with Mike Bennie and International Guest Matthew Jukes and hosted by Nick Ryan and Erin Larkin.

This year’s Western Australia Good Food Guide Wine Awards sees a dynamic overhaul. A new set of awards, a shifting lens on viticulture and best practices in farming, a standalone gala event, and new additions to the judging panel.

It's an event that celebrates the West Australian wine industry like never before.

The ticket price includes wine, spirits and beer throughout the evening as well as a menu designed by State Building Executive Chef Kim Brennan feasting incredible WA produce from our state's regions. There will also be an additional cash bar in Petition Wine Merchant with a curated selection of wines available, the list developed by Mike Bennie in collaboration with the State Buildings Director of Drinks, Emma Farrelly.

5:30pm - arrival drinks and canapés

Awards ceremony - approximately 7pm - 8pm

8pm onwards - networking function downstairs at Long Chim

THE MENU

On arrival

Kingfish crudo, yuzu koshu, crème fraiche, black sesame

Saffron and Tallegio arancini

Chargrilled focaccia, whipped ricotta, caponata, basil

Grilled Skull Island Prawns, Long Chim chilli sauce

After-party menu at Long Chim

Dirty Clean Food chicken satays

Shallots, cumin, sriracha

Glacier 51 Toothfish

G51 Toothfish, coconut and chilli, Thai basil

Pardoo Wagyu

Wagyu tartare, betel leaf, lemongrass, crunchy rice, coriander

Leeuwin Coast Akoya

Steamed, with three flavored sauce

Linley Valley Pork

Crispy pork belly, bau buns, cucumber pickle, spring onion

Dirty Clean Food Lamb

Sweet and sour lamb curry, steamed rice

Rins Thai coffee ice cream, pistachio, young coconut
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2023 Wine Awards Details

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 day of the awards by international guest judge Matthew Jukes (UK) and announced 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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ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS - RATES AVAILABLE SUNDAY 8, MONDAY 9 AND TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER, 2023

COMO The Treasury - Book here

City Room $495

Heritage Room $595

Quay Perth - to book, use code QPWAGFG

Perth Essential $162

Esplanade Studio $208

Elizabeth Quay Lux $304