2005 Western Australian Tourism Awards: Sandalford Wines awarded 'Sir David Brand Award' plus prizes for both best 'Wine Tourism Facility', and 'Significant Tourism Attractions'

7 November 2005

Sandalford Wines was awarded prizes for 'Significant Tourist Attractions', 'Best Wine Tourism Facility' and the very prestigious 'Sir David Brand Award' at the 2005 Western Australia Tourism Awards gala dinner last Saturday night.

Founded in 1840 by the State's first Surveyor General, John Septimus Roe, Sandalford Wines is one of the Western Australia's oldest and largest privately owned wineries. Located on the banks of the Swan River in the picturesque Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation, providing a total wine experience to visitors and placing it at the forefront of wine tourism in Australia.

Boasting unique facilities such as a winery tour on suspended walkways, a restaurant featuring alfresco dining under the vines, expansive indoor and outdoor function facilities, major concert events featuring international performers, Perth's first luxury cruiser the Miss Sandalford, wine appreciation classes and a gift emporium.

These industry awards were presented to Sandalford in recognition of its continuing commitment to excellence in wine tourism.

It is the third time Sandalford has received the 'Best Wine Tourism Facility' award (previously in 2002 and 2004), and will now be inducted in the WA Tourism Industry Hall of Fame.

On receipt of these accolades CEO Grant Brinklow said "Our objective is to produce outstanding premium and super premium wines with fruit sourced from Sandalford's 35 year old vineyard in the world famous Margaret River region, which is located 275 kilometres south of Perth. At the same time we have a vision to provide local, interstate and overseas tourists to Perth with a 'must' visit destination to Sandalford's Swan Valley operations, and to provide them with a truly world class wine tourism, education and hospitality experience."

"We were very humbled to receive the awards. For mine they recognize in particular the tireless efforts, sheer hard work, dedication, absolute passion and total commitment by all our team to a vision for Sandalford to play a key role in the future of Australia's wine and wine tourism industries."

As part of Sandalford's outdoor concert season in 2005/06 it is hosting numerous events including 'Day on the Green' featuring Pete Murray and Kasey Chambers (Sunday November 13, 2005), 'Evening on the Green' featuring John Fogerty, James Reyne and Mark Seymour (Saturday November 19, 2005), and of course the annual 'Symphony at Sandalford' with Australia's original female diva, Marcia Hines, with full orchestral backing (Saturday January 21, 2006).