A few weeks ago, Dream Bird Wines was crowned 2024 Best Emerging Producer at the WA Good Food Guide Wine Awards.

I headed up to Perth for the awards night on 15th October 2024 at Luna Leederville. It was an absolute cracker of a night – catching up with some old industry mates, meeting some new faces – and of course, walking away with a gong!

From the WA Good Food Guide:

“Dream Bird Wines made a remarkable impression this year with its entries across various categories… Owner and winemaker Kym Carr’s meticulous approach to sourcing high-quality fruit and thoughtful winemaking results in wines that are not only incredibly drinkable but also eloquently reflective of their variety and origin.”

Turns out it was the 2023 Arthur or Martha Nouveau Grenache that really caught their eye (one of the top 25 wines on the night). 

“The grenache stood out in particular – a juicy, expressive wine with a vibrancy and purity that immediately captivated all the judges. Slippery, bouncy texture with energy and intent to burn.”

I sourced fruit for the 2023 Arthur or Martha from Ken Proctor in Donnybrook. A particularly special parcel of grenache – that we picked on my birthday in March. A really juicy red – with subtle hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Deliciously smashable (in my humble opinion).

Click here to find out more about the wine.

While I am still not sure how to put myself and emerging in the same sentence, considering I’ve been kicking around the industry for the better part 25 years, I am absolutely over the moon to have Dream Bird Wines up there on the big stage.  Recognition and encouragement from industry groups like this – especially for one-man-band wineries like Dream Bird – really does mean a lot. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter – something bigger and bolder. 

Here’s to the next 25.

Until next time.

Kym