The Minns Government has announced Bunnamagoo Wines General Manager Angus Barnes as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Graham Gregory Award, recognising his exceptional leadership, service and impact on the New South Wales wine industry.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty presented the award to Mr Barnes at the annual NSW Wine Awards held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney.
The Graham Gregory Award is the industry's highest accolade recognising individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the NSW wine industry in fields such as leadership, research and development, technology and innovation, viticulture, winemaking, education and market development.
Mr Barnes has made a significant contribution to the NSW and Australian wine industry through the following leadership, advocacy and service attributes and achievements:
- Six years as Executive Officer of the NSW Wine Industry Association and prior service as Vice President for Government Relations.
- During his time with the NSW Wine Industry Association, he championed initiatives supporting producers through natural disasters and climatic adversity, while also advancing trade, taxation, economic development and market access outcomes
- Leadership credentials span industry and corporate roles, including senior ladership positions with Pernod Ricard, Executive Chair of Wine Communicators of Australia, and board and committee roles with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
- Chair of the Wine Committee for the Sydney Royal Wine Show and a Board Member of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, he has helped maintain and elevate standards of excellence within Australia's premier wine judging institutions.
The Graham Gregory Award is named in honour of the former NSW Agriculture Deputy Director General who was instrumental in the development of the NSW wine industry.
The NSW Government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is an ongoing partner of the NSW Wine Industry Association and delivers support through research and development for continual growth.
The Graham Gregory Award is awarded retrospectively each year. For information on all 2025 wine award recipients please visit - https://nswwine.com.au/pages/results-wine-awards.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
"I would like to congratulate Angus Barnes on receiving the Graham Gregory Award and thank him for his significant contributions to the NSW and Australian wine industry.
"The Graham Gregory Award is the highest honour within the wine industry, recognising those who have made significant contributions to winemaking, education, and market development.
"For more than two decades, Angus Barnes has been a tireless advocate for the wine industry, combining strategic leadership with a genuine commitment to supporting producers through both opportunity and adversity.
"Mr Barnes achievements in these areas truly reflect the values of this award, and we are proud to celebrate his impact on both the local and national stages.
President for NSW Wine Industry Association Mark Bourne said:
"On behalf of the NSW Wine Industry, I congratulate Angus Barnes on receiving the 2025 Graham Gregory Award. This year's award is also a first in its history.
"Angus joins his father, Chris, who received the award in 2013, making them the first father and son to be recognised.
"It reflects a family commitment to the NSW wine industry spanning generations, and the values of service and leadership that Graham Gregory himself championed. I congratulate Angus and the Barnes family on this remarkable achievement."
2025 Graham Gregory Award Winner Angus Barnes said:
"I am extremely grateful and proud to be named the recipient of the 2025 Graham Gregory Award. I have long looked at this award and the distinguished list of previous winners as a fantastic example of service to our great wine community in NSW.
"To join this list, which includes my father, Chris Barnes in 2013, is both a great honour and also a responsibility to uphold the high standards of service and contribution shown by these individuals.
"I love the NSW wine industry. We are vibrant and make wines that I like to drink. Challenges continue, but if we work together, sometimes for goals that focus on the collective rather than the individual, we will survive and thrive.
"Awards like these are given to an individual but are seldom achieved without the support of a community including my family, my employers, and good friends in the wine industry."
