James Halliday recognised in Queen’s Honours List

James Halliday, the doyen of Australian wine writers, has been named a Member of the Order of Australia in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The Decanter contributor, who has been working in the industry for more than 40 years, was originally a partner in a law firm before helping to establish the highly regarded Brokenwood winery in Australia’s Hunter Valley.

He is perhaps best known for his annual Australian Wine Companion, and has published around 60 books on the subject, but his award also recognises his work in the industry as a winemaker, show judge, and promoter of Australian wine.

When asked what he would be drinking to mark the honour, Halliday told The Australian newspaper: ‘In my dreams, a birth-year 1938 Romanée-Conti, a wine which I drank on three occasions in France in 1982–1983. Alas, I only have an empty bottle to remind me what a glorious wine it was,’ he added.

Other wine industry figures to have been awarded the honour include John Horgan, co-founder of Leeuwin Estate and Michael Hill Smith MW of Shaw and Smith’s.

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Written by Stuart Peskett