Glenn Goodall Halliday Winemaker of The Year

Margaret River winemaker Glenn Goodall is the Halliday Wine Companion’s 2023 Winemaker of the Year.

The Winery of the Year is Pooley Wines from Tasmania.

The Wine of the Year is Best’s Wines Foudre Ferment Riesling 2021 from Great Western.

Glenn is chief winemaker at Xanadu Wines and operates side project La Kooki with partner Eloise Jarvis.

He was named the ninth recipient of the award, which was streamed online on Wednesday night.

Judge Tyson Stelzer gave Goodall the additional accolade of “best bloke of the year”.

Chief winemaker at Xanadu since 2006, Glenn was shortlisted for the award alongside Adam Wadewitz, Bryan Martin, Greg Follett, Ian Hongell, Natalie Fryar, Rob Mack and Tom Carson.

He was the only shortlisted winemaker from WA.

Award judge Erin Larkin said Glenn’s leadership, focus and attention to detail result in wines that “exude excellence at every price point”.

“Glenn is not only an exceptionally talented winemaker, but a widely loved and respected member of this industry,” Erin said.

Glenn said the support of his team at Xanadu, as well as the creative outlet of La Kooki, both played a part in his success.

“It was enough just to be nominated for a second time, amongst that calibre of finalists,” Glenn said.

“This rewards a lot of time and effort from a lot of people, including my partner Ely.

“The winemaking industry has really changed, especially in the last 10 years in what was considered conventional winemaking.

“People’s knowledge of wine has also changed.

“Twenty years ago, everyone was making the same Chardonnay – it was a monoculture.

“We established La Kooki to ensure we keep trying, keep improving and keep experimenting.

“Being allowed to experiment and play and take risks with La Kooki has made me a better, more confident winemaker.

“I just think Margaret River is a utopia when it comes to viticulture and winemaking.”

Glenn and Ely produce four wines under the La Kooki label, working with growers throughout the region to secure select parcels of fruit.

Originally from Northland in New Zealand, Glenn first visited Australia on a surfing holiday in 1989.

It was during this trip that he began his wine career, working in the vineyard at Cassegrain Wines in Port Macquarie.

A vintage at Domaine La Grave in Bordeaux the following year (1990) cemented Glenn’s passion for wine and he was encouraged to take up studies at a tertiary level.

Over nine years at Cassegrain, Glenn worked his way from the vineyards to the cellar before eventually earning the position of winemaker.

During this time, Glenn completed his Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Oenology at the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy) and gained valuable experience overseas including vintages in South Africa (1992, 1998) at Glen Carlou Vineyards, in New Zealand (1996) at Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay, and at Mac Rostie Wines in California, USA (1997).

When Glenn returned to Australia he worked in the vineyard at Ashbrook Estate before assisting in establishing Margaret River’s first contract winemaking facility at Harmans Ridge.

Glenn eventually found his niche as a winemaker at Xanadu Wines, joining the team in 1999.

Several months after the Rathbone family purchased the winery, Glenn took on the role of Senior Winemaker and has been at the helm since the 2006 vintage.

In 2017, Glenn and partner and fellow winemaker Eloise Jarvis established La Kooki as a creative outlet.

La Kooki is a combination of Ely’s aspiration to develop and create something of their own and Glenn’s desire to test and try new winegrowing and winemaking techniques.

The grapes for La Kooki wines are sourced from small parcels throughout the Margaret River.

Wines are produced in limited quantities and include a carbonic Verdelho blanc de blanc and a Chardonnay matured in barrel with stones collected from local riverbeds, which give texture, minerality and complexity.

Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023

Best New Winery
Living Roots – Adelaide Hills

Sparkling White
Gilbert Family Wines Blanc de Blancs 2016 – Orange

Sparkling Rosé
Pipers Brook Vineyard Kreglinger Brut Rosé 2017 – Tasmania

Sparkling Red
Teusner MC Sparkling Shiraz 2017 – Barossa Valley

Sparkling Wine of the Year
Gilbert Family Wines Blanc de Blancs 2016 – Orange

Best Value Winery
Deep Woods Estate – Margaret River

Riesling
Best’s Wines Foudre Ferment Riesling 2021 – Great Western
Henschke Julius Riesling 2021 – Eden Valley

Chardonnay
Stella Bella Wines Luminosa Chardonnay 2020 – Margaret River

Dark Horse
L.A.S. Vino – Margaret River

Semillon
Brokenwood Sunshine Vineyard Semillon 2014 – Hunter Valley

Sauvignon Blanc
Flowstone Wines Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – Margaret River