THE contribution to the State’s wine industry by WA Business News wine writer David Pike was formerly recognised at last week’s Wine Press Club Royal Show award luncheon.
THE contribution to the State’s wine industry by WA Business News wine writer David Pike was formerly recognised at last week’s Wine Press Club Royal Show award luncheon.
Mr Pike was awarded the prestigious Wine Press Club and Court Wine Bar Media Award for his work in promoting the industry through the media.
Unlike previous years, the Wine Press Club decided this year to award an individual who consistently performed over a period of 12 months to promote the wine industry.
In other years the winner of the media award was chosen on the basis of a single article, however Wine Press Club president Christian Morlaes said the judges this year were looking for a consistent contributor to the wine industry.
“It used to be for the best article written in the WA media. It was too restrictive and we opened up the rules a bit. We had five representatives, including myself, who chose someone who we believe has made the best contribution to the wine industry,” he said.
“David Pike has written for WA Business News and Scoop, as well as working in the wineries. He has done a whole lot of things for the industry.
“We felt he was someone with a fresh and open view of the wine industry and he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, He spent the vintage at Devil’s Lair.”
Mr Pike spent two months at Devil’s Lair in Margaret River, an experience that formed the basis of a series of articles about the wine vintage.
“I learned everything from processing fruit to the integral winery practices of cleaning,” Mr Pike said.
Mr Pike, who also teaches at the Wine Education Centre, said he decided to work during vintage to improve his knowledge of the wine-making process.
“I wanted to know what happens in the winery at vintage and learn about the production process and explore the many fruit flavours,” he said.
“It introduced me to a whole new flavour spectrum.
“I enjoyed writing about it. It was helpful for me as a teacher at the Wine Education Centre because I had access to part of the process and could bring in samples.”
Mr Morlaes said Mr Pike’s wine experiences were a welcome addition to the media.
Other winners at this year’s awards included John Bourke, who won the George Mulgrue Award for an outstanding contribution to promoting an understanding of the industry, while the best wine of the show went to the Plantagenet Omrah Sauvignon Blanc 2002.
Mr Pike was awarded the prestigious Wine Press Club and Court Wine Bar Media Award for his work in promoting the industry through the media.
Unlike previous years, the Wine Press Club decided this year to award an individual who consistently performed over a period of 12 months to promote the wine industry.
In other years the winner of the media award was chosen on the basis of a single article, however Wine Press Club president Christian Morlaes said the judges this year were looking for a consistent contributor to the wine industry.
“It used to be for the best article written in the WA media. It was too restrictive and we opened up the rules a bit. We had five representatives, including myself, who chose someone who we believe has made the best contribution to the wine industry,” he said.
“David Pike has written for WA Business News and Scoop, as well as working in the wineries. He has done a whole lot of things for the industry.
“We felt he was someone with a fresh and open view of the wine industry and he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, He spent the vintage at Devil’s Lair.”
Mr Pike spent two months at Devil’s Lair in Margaret River, an experience that formed the basis of a series of articles about the wine vintage.
“I learned everything from processing fruit to the integral winery practices of cleaning,” Mr Pike said.
Mr Pike, who also teaches at the Wine Education Centre, said he decided to work during vintage to improve his knowledge of the wine-making process.
“I wanted to know what happens in the winery at vintage and learn about the production process and explore the many fruit flavours,” he said.
“It introduced me to a whole new flavour spectrum.
“I enjoyed writing about it. It was helpful for me as a teacher at the Wine Education Centre because I had access to part of the process and could bring in samples.”
Mr Morlaes said Mr Pike’s wine experiences were a welcome addition to the media.
Other winners at this year’s awards included John Bourke, who won the George Mulgrue Award for an outstanding contribution to promoting an understanding of the industry, while the best wine of the show went to the Plantagenet Omrah Sauvignon Blanc 2002.
