Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) has announced Wolf Blass AM as the 2026 South Australian ‘Legend of the Vine’.

The SA Legend of the Vine Award recognises individuals who are of excellent character, are high regard by their peers in the world of wine, and who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry.

The recipient must also demonstrably share WCA’s values on the importance of developing and inspiring excellence in how they communicate about wine.

WCA said Wolf Blass was an outstanding Legend of the Vine, as he is a passionate wine communicator—someone who has taken the Australian wine message to the world, with clarity, conviction and no shortage of personality.

Blass started his wine journey in Germany, where he completed a Certificate in Viticulture and Winemaking in 1952, followed by a Diploma in Oenology in 1954, and a Kellermeister qualification in 1956. But Australia soon called—and in 1961 he moved to the Barossa, beginning a career that would reshape the Australian wine story forever.

In 1967, he introduced a colour‑coded tiered label system for his wines—Grey, Yellow, Red, Black, Platinum—making wine more accessible, less intimidating, and far easier for everyday drinkers to understand. This simple but brilliant communication breakthrough changed how Australians talked about wine.

His wines have dominated national awards, with over 10,000 wins, including an unprecedented three consecutive Jimmy Watson Trophies from 1974 to 1976—and again in 1999. No other producer has won it four times.

He has previously been recognised as a Baron of the Barossa, a Member of the Order of Australia, a Senior Australian of the Year finalist and received the Australian Export Hero Award.

Beyond the bottle, his philanthropic footprint includes major contributions to sporting, cultural, and community organisations across South Australia. They include founding the Wolf Blass Foundation on his 60th birthday, which now has a permanent home at the Wolf Blass Gallery & Museum in Hahndorf.

Blass said: “There is one spot left on the walls of my Gallery & Museum, so I know exactly where this certificate is going.”   

Blass is the 12th South Australian to receive the SA Legend of the Vine Award. He joins a prestigious list that includes Prue Henschke, Jane Ferrari, Peter Hayes, Brian Croser AO, Pam Dunsford, Tony Love, Brian Walsh, d’Arry Osborne, Dr Patrick Iland OAM and Bill Hardy OAM, who presented Blass with his award certificate at the Royal Adelaide Wine Awards Lunch.