Frocking Up

L to R: Rolf Binder of Veritas, Philip White, Chris Ringland and Greenock Creek's Michael Waugh at the Barons of the Barossa 2005 ceremony at which Ringland was made Winemaker of the Year and Waugh viticulturer of the year. Contrary to the bullshit Dan Phillips and Robert Parker spread about Ringers being the Greenock Creek winemaker, Michael was well and truly making the wine. In spite of incredible drought conditions since, he still remains unique in that he will not add water to his musts. PHOTO - LEO DAVIS

I've taken some flak for presumption or silly walks or something for my attire in the photograph above, which was previously posted on DRANKSTER.

I was honoured some years ago to be inducted into the Barons of the Barossa, the philanthropic order of people who the Barons Grand Council believes have made a significant contribution to Barossa life, and the protection of its unique culture. One is a Baron for life.

Just for the record, my citation read thus:

"Philip White is a writer and broadcaster.

"Philip’s first visit to the Barossa, as a journalist, was 25 years ago when he came to write about Yalumba’s radical new computer system for the quarterly IBM magazine.

"Within a few years he was living in a heritage cottage at Dutton, writing what was Australia’s most influential wine column in The National Times. In spite of tasting at the hands of the PR spin-doctors, he claimed to learn more about the wine industry drinking beer with tanker drivers at the top pub in Truro, and he learned a lot more about drinking beers in the old Buick he co-drove with Peter Lehmann in the 1988 Redex Rally.

"Philip was a vital battler for the retention of the precious old shiraz, carignan, cinsault, mataro and grenache vines in the face of the notorious vine pull scheme, and was, behind the scenes, instrumental in forming the Barossa Residents’ Association, which eventually forced the government to put and end to that destruction.

"In the years since, Philip has written passionately and honestly about the Barossa in most of Australia’s major newspapers and many magazines, local and international. His decade broadcasting on the ABC was special for its knowing references to Barossa life, religion and agriculture. His controversial commitment to environmental conservatism in viticulture, the protection of aquifers in the face of deadly salinity, and the preservation of the culture that makes the Barossa unique, is exemplary, tireless, and ongoing."

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