Cheers to restaurateur for backing Queensland wines
Published Wednesday, 24 October, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Brisbane restaurateur Michael Platsis was today named as the 2007 winner of the prestigious Bassett Award which recognises a major contribution by an individual to the Queensland wine industry.
The award was presented by Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle at the Queensland Wine Industry Association’s Annual General Meeting.
“Michael Platsis joins an impressive list of previous winners. This honour is a mark of how highly regarded he is by the industry,” Ms Boyle said at the AGM, which was held at the Preston Peak Winery, Toowoomba.
“Since 1981, when he established Michael’s Riverside Restaurant, Michael has consistently supported Queensland winemakers.
“Over the years he has provided many of them with their first opportunity to sell their wines in Brisbane and today has more than 20 Queensland wines on his wine list.”
“There has been a perception that Queensland wines may not be as good as those from down south – which I can tell you is not so – so congratulations to Michael for giving Queensland wines a go.
“Wherever Queenslanders go out to restaurants they should be asking, do you serve Queensland wine?”
Ms Boyle said the number of licensed winemakers in Queensland had more than doubled during the past six years.
“In 2001 there were 91 wine producers and merchants in Queensland and today we have 185 winemakers operating across the State’s 10 wine regions extending from the southern Granite Belt to Queensland’s northern fruit wine region,” she said.
“Wine tourism is increasing, with 223 cellar door and satellite cellar door outlets in Queensland, and Queensland wines are now exported to 16 countries, including Japan, the UK, China, USA and Canada.”
Ms Boyle said the Bassett Award was named after wine industry pioneer Samuel Bassett who established Bassett’s Winery at Roma in 1863 and went on to win many medals for his wines, including 10 of the 11 awarded at the 1901 Royal Brisbane Show.
Recipients are chosen for their achievement and leadership in areas such as industry development, technology, marketing and media, development of quality products/systems, research and development, and training and skill development.
The previous winners of the Bassett Award are; Angelo Puglisi, Ballandean Estate (2003); Peter Scudamore-Smith MW, Uncorked and Cultivated (2004); Bob Grey, Rumbalara Estate (2005); and Terry Morris, Sirromet Wines (2006).
Ms Boyle also congratulated new Queensland Wine Industry Association President Grant Casley, of Casley Mount Hutton Winery on the Granite Belt, who was sworn in during today’s AGM.
“Congratulations to Grant on his appointment. He has been a very capable vice-president and I am looking forward to working with him on their next phase for the Queensland wine industry,” Ms Boyle said.
“Thank you to Maryanne Pidcock, from Captain’s Paddock Wines at Kingaroy, for her outstanding efforts as president over the past three years,” Ms Boyle said.
The Queensland Wine Industry Association is the peak body for the State’s wine industry.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
24 October 2007
The award was presented by Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle at the Queensland Wine Industry Association’s Annual General Meeting.
“Michael Platsis joins an impressive list of previous winners. This honour is a mark of how highly regarded he is by the industry,” Ms Boyle said at the AGM, which was held at the Preston Peak Winery, Toowoomba.
“Since 1981, when he established Michael’s Riverside Restaurant, Michael has consistently supported Queensland winemakers.
“Over the years he has provided many of them with their first opportunity to sell their wines in Brisbane and today has more than 20 Queensland wines on his wine list.”
“There has been a perception that Queensland wines may not be as good as those from down south – which I can tell you is not so – so congratulations to Michael for giving Queensland wines a go.
“Wherever Queenslanders go out to restaurants they should be asking, do you serve Queensland wine?”
Ms Boyle said the number of licensed winemakers in Queensland had more than doubled during the past six years.
“In 2001 there were 91 wine producers and merchants in Queensland and today we have 185 winemakers operating across the State’s 10 wine regions extending from the southern Granite Belt to Queensland’s northern fruit wine region,” she said.
“Wine tourism is increasing, with 223 cellar door and satellite cellar door outlets in Queensland, and Queensland wines are now exported to 16 countries, including Japan, the UK, China, USA and Canada.”
Ms Boyle said the Bassett Award was named after wine industry pioneer Samuel Bassett who established Bassett’s Winery at Roma in 1863 and went on to win many medals for his wines, including 10 of the 11 awarded at the 1901 Royal Brisbane Show.
Recipients are chosen for their achievement and leadership in areas such as industry development, technology, marketing and media, development of quality products/systems, research and development, and training and skill development.
The previous winners of the Bassett Award are; Angelo Puglisi, Ballandean Estate (2003); Peter Scudamore-Smith MW, Uncorked and Cultivated (2004); Bob Grey, Rumbalara Estate (2005); and Terry Morris, Sirromet Wines (2006).
Ms Boyle also congratulated new Queensland Wine Industry Association President Grant Casley, of Casley Mount Hutton Winery on the Granite Belt, who was sworn in during today’s AGM.
“Congratulations to Grant on his appointment. He has been a very capable vice-president and I am looking forward to working with him on their next phase for the Queensland wine industry,” Ms Boyle said.
“Thank you to Maryanne Pidcock, from Captain’s Paddock Wines at Kingaroy, for her outstanding efforts as president over the past three years,” Ms Boyle said.
The Queensland Wine Industry Association is the peak body for the State’s wine industry.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
24 October 2007