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YOUR 2023 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Xanadu Wines Chief Winemaker, Glenn Goodall has taken out the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year award. Announced last night at Stokehouse, St Kilda, Glenn was awarded the highly anticipated accolade after two years of being shortlisted.
“I’m excited and feel very honoured to receive the Halliday Winemaker of the Year award. I’ve been fortunate enough to lead the Xanadu team for many years, and winemaking is definitely a team sport. This award acknowledges everyone, including our growers, who have been involved in the Xanadu journey over the years, and I feel really proud to represent this group.” – Glenn Goodall, Chief Winemaker, Xanadu Wines
Visiting Australia in 1989 when he was just 19, the Kiwi fell into wine whilst looking to fund a surfing holiday in Port Macquarie, with his first introduction to the industry at Cassegrain Wines. Nine years later, Glenn had completed vintages in Bordeaux, South Africa, New Zealand and California, all whilst finishing his Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Oenology at the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy). In 1999, Glenn joined the team at Xanadu in Margaret River, becoming Senior Winemaker in 2006.
Now in his 24th year at Xanadu, the winemaker and his team have tallied up an unbelievable 339 gold medals and 127 trophies across regional and national wine shows. This not only includes winning the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2018, with the 2016 Xanadu Cabernet, but recently the 2019 Xanadu Reserve Cabernet continued their incredible run at the National Wine Show of Australia by taking home the Best Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy for the 8th consecutive year in a row.
Glenn has always had an intuitive approach to winemaking alongside an unwavering belief that the vineyard is central to the steady success of Xanadu wines. “The variety and the vineyards should be the loudest voice in the glass, not the winemaker… Walking a lot of rows, in a lot of vineyards, is really important to identify the differences between, and often within, blocks. This unlocks good picking decisions and by keeping the winemaking pretty simple we can maintain the integrity of each different parcel of fruit, and that’s the key to retaining a nice spectrum of fruit profiles for when it comes to putting blends together”.
This attention to detail and regional focus result in excellence at every price point, which is why Xanadu was additionally nominated for the 2023 Halliday Best Value Winery of the year. “The wines are made to an exceptional standard at every price point, showcasing their deep understanding of both the art of winemaking and the terroir of the region” (Erin Larkin – Halliday Wine Companion).
Whilst Glenn’s award-winning wines sit front and centre, his dedication to the industry, knowledge, and generosity follow closely behind. A passionate industry advocate for sustainability, participation within the Australian Wine Show system, and contribution to expert panels cement him as a worthy recipient of the 2023 Halliday Winemaker of the Year award.
