JAMES Talijancich went to the 2024 Swan Valley wine show knowing his father Peter Talijancich was going to be named an icon of the Swan Valley.

But what he didn’t know was the Swan Valley Winemakers Association wine show committee, for the first time since the awards inception, were going to announce two icons of the Swan Valley.

The first was awarded to his father (accepted by Peter’s wife Mary) and the second to James himself.

Mr Talijancich said when the association first called for nominations they entered his father Peter and he and the rest of the family had known for nearly two months that his dad would be awarded the icon.

On the night, his mother and sister went along and also two workers from the winery.

“So we went along knowing my father was going to win so that was wonderful and my mother read out his speech, which was fantastic,’’ he said.

“But then Lauren Pileggi – the winemaker from Upper Reach got up and started (I knew nothing about this and nor did my family) talking about ‘for the first time since we’ve been running the icon award there is a second nomination that came forward and we found it very difficult to not include this person in the same year’.’’

“She started reading it out and I wasn’t paying a lot of attention because my mother just finished her speech and it was all quite emotional.

“My mum finds it hard to walk so I was busy getting her back to her seat and about half way through Lauren reading it out Hilda (his wife) said it sounds like you.’’

He asked what she was talking about but when Ms Pileggi mentioned the national verdelho tasting which he had done for 10 years he thought “Oh god it’s me.”.

“I was so blown away by it all that I didn’t even thank anyone in my speech – I ended up doing it online the next day.’’

The nominee for the Icon of the Swan Valley must have exhibited a minimum of 25 years of significant influence in the history of the Swan Valley or the advancement of winemaking in the Swan Valley.

Mr Talijancich, who is doing his 46th vintage this year said in his case actively influencing  the advancement of winemaking in the Swan Valley had been part of producing the best wines he could.

“In the early years as a winemaker everything you do has an attachment to the valley and everyone (in it) or it affects the region in a positive way when you do something good so you are aware of that.

“But I think you are so absorbed in making the best wines you can and those years from the early 80s – even before we bought the winery off mum and dad – were extremely difficult years.

“That was a transitional period in the industry statewide – it was a monumental shift for the Swan Valley – that period of the early 80s.

“I started at the winery in 78 and in the next few years after that when we realised we had to make table wine as well as fortified we had to invest in refrigeration and stainless steel tanks and setting up a cool room – all these things the winery needed to be serious about table wine.

“So you are so absorbed in making your best – for us it was verdelho, semillon and shiraz –  wines as possible.

“But you knew whatever you do has an effect on how the Swan Valley is seen so it’s a little bit of both.’’

Mr Talijancich was instrumental in establishing the Swan Valley old vine charter launched late last year.

On the award night, Windy Creek Estate was awarded the trophies for the best Swan Valley table wine and the  best chenin blanc.

Sandalford Wines won the City of Swan trophy and  Mandoon Estate named the most successful producer.

The Liquor Barons trophy for the best regional wine  only open to gold medal winning Swan Valley wines was won by Windy Creek Estate – they also won best varietal dry white or dry white blend, best verdelho and best grenache or grenache dominant blend.

Mandoon Estate took home a total of four trophies, in addition to most successful producer, they won best sparkling wine, best non GPZ wine and best single red varietal.

Nikola Estate won best 2024 dry white wine of show and Pinelli Estate won the best fortified wine of show.

Sittella won the best shiraz or shiraz dominant blend and also won the Alan Dinneen memorial trophy – selected by chair of judges Erin Larkin from all of the Swan Valley GI wines entered into the show.