For the first time in four years, Central Otago Winegrowers’ Association members gathered to applaud the achievements of members at the Feraud Dinner and Industry Awards.

Cromwell’s James Dicey, owner of Grape Vision, Dicey Wines and past president of Central Otago Winegrowers’ Association (COWA), was presented with the highest honour, for ‘Outstanding services to the Central Otago wine industry’ at the event on Friday (August 5).

James was recognised for his historic and ongoing support and representation of the industry, and more recently for his work in preparing the wine industry to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 James said it was an honour to receive the award.

“It’s been a privilege to have been able to contribute in a small way to the continued rise of Central Otago wine - lots of people over the years have put in a huge amount of work and I am humbled to have been selected for this award.”

Toast to James Dicey, recipient of the COWA award for outstanding services to the local wine industry

Other COWA winners were Lianne Collins of Quartz Reef (Marketing Champion Award), Dean Shaw of Central Otago Wine Company (Industry Know How Award), Simon Gourley of Domaine Thomson (Young Gun Award), and Kerry Stainton-Herbert of Stewart Town Vineyard (Morley Hewitt Good Sort Award). 

The Feraud Dinner is a key event on the COWA calendar, recognising the people and businesses who have contributed to the success of the local wine industry.

The dinner is named in honour of Jean Desiree-Feraud, the pioneering winemaker of Central, who settled in the Alexandra basin to make wine in the late 19th century. 

This is the first time the dinner has been held since 2018.