VALE JOHN VICKERY

South Australian winemaker John Vickery passed away on September 23. John was responsible for some of Australia’s finest rieslings, over the years working for Leo Burning, Lindermans, Southcorp and Orlando. “John Vickery was long regarded as the grand master of riesling,” James Halliday said. “Quietly spoken, he had to put up with decisions of the large companies who were his task masters, such as being sent to Coonawarra for four years.” In 2007, John was awarded the Medal of Order of Australia for service to the wine industry. He won more than 50 trophies, 400 gold medals and a Jimmy Watson in more than half a century of winemaking.