Fine wine expert and historian Andrew Caillard MW has won the Maurice O’Shea Award for his 45-year career in the Australian wine industry.
He received the award in a special ceremony at the Adelaide Town Hall on Sunday night on the eve of the Technical Conference.
Viticulturist, advisor and vineyard owner Dylan Grigg won the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award for his work in the research and protection of Australian old vines.
The Maurice O’Shea acknowledges Caillard’s ongoing work in the promotion of the Australian wine industry, most notably penning renowned titles such as the The Australian Ark, along with Penfolds: The Rewards of Patience, the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine (Editions I-VII) and The Vintage Journal.
Caillard’s contributions to the Australian wine industry also extends to his work in the development of Langtons as shareholder and director, and author of seven editions of its respected Classification of Australian Wine.
Mount Pleasant chief winemaker Adrian Sparks said: “Andrew’s dedication to researching and championing the Australian wine industry is truly admirable. His work has played a defining role in elevating its reputation on the global stage. We are honoured to present him with the Maurice O’Shea Award in recognition of his significant contribution.”
The Excellence in Action Award – created by McWilliam’s Wines’ owners the Calabria Family Wine Group – focuses on the many current challenges facing the wine industry and the people or organisations tackling the key issues head on for the betterment of the industry.
Beginning his career in the Barossa Valley, Grigg was first exposed to working with old vines.
He later studied viticulture at the University of Adelaide, and continued working in vineyards across Victoria and New Zealand.
In 2008, Grigg established Meristem Viticulture as a service to help growers and winemakers get the most from their vines with practical experience underpinned with scientific knowledge.
Returning to the University of Adelaide, Grigg completed his PhD in grapevine age and grape and wine quality with study sites in his home region of the Barossa Valley.
Third-generation sales marketing director of Calabria Family Wine Group Andrew Calabria said: “Old vines are a valuable aspect of our Australian winemaking industry symbolising our rich viticultural history and high-quality wines.
Dylan Grigg’s ever-enduring work in protecting and advocating for these treasures is incredibly important and encompasses the spirit of the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award which we are so proud to present to him.”
The winners for both awards were selected through a conferral process with a panel of some of the industry’s most respected leaders, industry body organisations, journalists and previous winners of the Maurice O’Shea.
The final shortlist of talent is then narrowed down to the individual winners by leaders within the Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s organisations.
Leaders across the industry, media, producers and industry body representatives gathered to find out who would receive both awards on the night, followed by a special dinner matched with Mount Pleasant and McWilliam’s Wines.
The Maurice O’Shea Award Trophy was designed and created by Design Awards in Sydney, and is inspired by the winery’s branding and its original wine labels created by Maurice O’Shea himself.
The trophy’s striking swan centrepiece sends a nod to the O’Shea family crest which sits upon a large oak wood base.
The trophy for the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award was designed and created by celebrated Australian glass artist Nick Mount in Adelaide.
The trophy is a glass replica of the iconic barrel-shaped building of the McWilliam’s cellar door in the Riverina which was designed by Glen McWilliam and was first opened in 1973.
Maurice O’Shea was the eldest child of the Irish John Augustus O’Shea and the French-born Léontine Francoise Beucher.
When his father passed away, it was Léontine who arranged her eldest son’s trip to France in 1914 at the age of 17.
It was in 1921 that O’Shea, having just returned from France, persuaded his mother to purchase a 16.3-hectare property on the rich, volcanic soils in the Parish of Pokolbin, in the Hunter Valley.
Maurice O’Shea’s blending techniques and sophisticated use of oak – talents learnt while studying oenology at France’s Montpellier University – were credited with producing red table wines of enormous flavour, intensity and longevity.
The McWilliam family, led by Keith McWilliam, recognised the talent and potential of this great winemaker.
In 1932 they joined forces with Maurice O’Shea by purchasing 50 percent of the winery, acquiring the remaining share in 1941.
In 1956, aged 59, Maurice passed away surrounded by both Marcia and his daughter, Simone. Initiated in 1990, the biennial McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Award commemorates and pays homage to the legendary Maurice O’Shea.
Past winners of the Maurice O’Shea
Pamela Dunsford OAM (2022)
Robert Hill-Smith (2019)
The Len Evans Tutorial (2016)
Dr Peter Dry AM (2014)
The Australian Screwcap Initiative (2012)
Philip Laffer AM (2010)
Dr John Gladstones (2008)
The Late Dr Ray Beckwith OAM (2006)
The Late Guenter Prass AM (2004)
The Australian Wine Research Institute (2002)
Dr Wolf Blass AM (2000)
The Late Dr Bryce Rankine AM (1998)
Brian Croser AO (1997)
The Late Hazel Murphy AM (1996)
James Halliday AM (1995)
The Jacob’s Creek Brand (1994)
The Late David Wynn AO (1993)
The Late Ron Potter OAM (1992)
The Late Len Evans OBE AO (1991)
The Late Max Schubert AM (1990)
Past winners of the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award:
Australian Women In Wine Awards 2022
The judges for the 2025 Australian Wine Industry Awards were Phil Ryan, Doug McWilliam, Sally Evans, Louisa Rose, Bill Calabria AM, Mark Krstic, Lee McLean and Jane Faulkner.
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