About Us

The Wine Show of Western Australia is one of Australia’s most respected wine shows. It is the state’s premier wine show and judges Western Australian wines exclusively. The Wine Show mirrors the growth of the state’s wine industry and provides wine enthusiasts with insights into the best of Western Australia’s wines.

In 1978 the Wine Show had an inauspicious start as Section L of the Annual Mount Barker and District Agricultural Society Show (in between Section K Farm Produce and Section M Home Cooking).

In that year Section L comprised of just six classes of wine that attracted ten very enthusiastic exhibitors with a total of 26 entries judged solely by West Australian wine judge John Hanley. Two trophies and a total of 14 medals were awarded that year: one gold, seven silver, and six bronze.

From those beginnings the Wine Show has grown in scale and stature to become a separate and distinguished event managed by an independent committee of the Agricultural Society.  Contemporary Wine Shows reflect the development of Western Australia’s wine industry, which has developed an international reputation for producing wines of quality and distinction.

In 1982 the Wine Show attracted its first major sponsor. That year Trans Australian Airlines provided flights to the National Wine Show in Canberra for the winners of the Best White Wine and Best Red Wine of Show and also provided travel to allow Brian Croser to attend as Chief Judge.

In 2016 Singapore Airlines became the major sponsor in a relationship that highlighted the important role the West Australian wine industry plays in the state’s cultural and agricultural identity, both nationwide and internationally.

The Wine Show continues to increase in popularity and prestige. Currently the Chief Judge oversees three judging panels each comprising of a panel leader, two judges, and two associate judges. In 2021 the judges will evaluate 40 classes of wine over six sections.

Since 1998 an international judge has, travel protocols allowing, been involved in judging.

In 2006 the Annual Wine Show Awards Presentation Dinner was relocated from Mount Barker to the Hyatt Regency Perth. This move aimed to showcase local producers more directly to the metropolitan-based wine and hospitality industries. 

In 2017 the Presentation Dinner celebrated the fortieth year of the Wine Show of Western Australia.

In 2018 the Wine Show returned to its regional roots and centralised all judging and presentation activities in Mount Barker.

In 2021 the Wine Show of Western Australia was again pleased to recognise Portavin as its major sponsor.

For the 2022 show Sanector is our major sponsor.  This brand name brings together the experience of Portavin Integrated Wine Services, Barossa Bottlers and Best Bottlers.