Press Release- John Ellis, CEO of Hanging Rock Winery Awarded Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) for Service to the Oenology Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 John Ellis, the CEO of Hanging Rock Winery has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for Service to the Oenology Industry as a part of the King’s Birthday Honours.

 Newham, 12^thJune 2023 – Ruth Ellis, General Manager of Hanging Rock Winery, is delighted to announce the presentation of the esteemed Medal of Order of Australia award to her father, John Scott Ellis, a prominent figure in the wine industry. This recognition comes as a testament to John’s outstanding contributions, unwavering dedication, and significant impact on the Australian wine Industry.

 The Medal of Order of Australia is a highly prestigious honour bestowed by the Governor General to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service or achievement in various fields. The award acknowledges John’s remarkable expertise, innovation, and profound influence on the oenology industry, which has significantly contributed to Australia's global reputation as a leading wine producer.

 With an illustrious career spanning over 50 years, John has been a key contributor in shaping the Australian wine Industry as we see it today. From being arguably the first person in Australia to make; a Merlot, Cabernet Merlot, cool climate Chardonnay and Fumé Blanc, through to his time as Vice President of Winemakers Federation of Australia, Chairman of WFA Small Winemakers Committee, Executive Officer of Victorian Wine Industry Association, President of Macedon Ranges Vignerons Association, over 30 years of national wine show judging, and countless regional, state and national wine and tourism committees, John has done it all. 

 John graduated from Roseworthy College dux of his class, before starting his career in the Barossa Valley, going on to become the first Winemaker at Rosemount Estate, Tisdall Wines and eventually starting his own winery with wife Ann in 1983- Hanging Rock Winery, in the Macedon Ranges. He is regarded as one of the contemporary pioneers of the Macedon Ranges and Heathcote wine growing regions.

 When asked about his greatest achievement John noted ‘I’d say it was in the early days of the Victorian Wine Industry Association (VWIA). We were given the task of defining Victoria’s Geographic Indications (GI’s). I was the Executive Officer at the time. The really tricky regions were initially the Macedon Ranges and the King Valley. Later I was given the task to help officially split Heathcote from the Bendigo region which was the hardest of them all… it took a lot of negotiating’. ‘I couldn’t have done it all without the help of my family, in particular my wife Ann, without her holding the fort at the winery, none of this would have been possible’.

 For media enquiries, please contact:

Ruth Ellis- General Manager, Hanging Rock Winery

E: ruthe@hangingrock.com.au Ph:0408388212

Service Includes:

Australian Grape and Wine (formerly Winemakers' Federation of Australia)

Vice-President, 2008-2010.

Committee Member/Chairman, WFA Small Winemakers Committee 2004-2008.

Macedon Ranges Vignerons Association

President, 1984-2009.

Treasurer/Executive Member, 1984-2009.

Victorian Wine Industry Association

Committee Member, 1986-1992.

Executive Officer, 1985-1986.

Committee and Advisory Roles

Foundation Committee Member, Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition, 1990-2015.

Treasurer, Budburst Food and Wine Festival Committee, 1990-2015.

Committee Member, Heathcote Wine Show, 2005-2015.

Committee Member, Kyneton Light Horse Monument Committee, 2010-2015.

Committee Member, Mount Macedon Memorial Cross Trust, 2010-2015.

Member, Macedon Ranges and Spa Country Campaign Committee, 2005-2010.

Chairman, Tourism Macedon Ranges, 2005-2010.

Chairman, Victorian Food and Wine Tourism Council (formerly Victorian Wine Tourism Council), 2004-2008.

Committee Member, Australian Wine Tourism Alliance, 1992-1998.

Australian Sparkling Wine Show

Chairman of Judges. 2010-2014.

Founding Committee Member.

Wine Judging - Other

Senior Judge/Chairman of Judges/Committee Chairman, Royal Hobart Wine Show, 2002-2015.

Panel Chair/Senior Judge/Associate Judge, Royal Melbourne Wine Show, 1977-2005.

Deputy Chairman, Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, 2000-2005.

Judge/Panel chairman/Rutherglen Wine Show, 1998-2009.

Judge, Senior Wine Judge and Panel Chair, various wine shows including Royal Sydney wine Show, Sydney International Wine Competition, National Wine Show, Canberra, Perth Royal Wine Awards, Ballarat Wine Show,

Australian Inland irrigated Wine Show, Mudgee Wine Show, Orange Wine Show, Cairns Show Wine Awards, Brisbane Royal Wine Show, Queensland Wine Show, Mornington Peninsula Wine Show, Barossa Valley Wine Show and Kyneton Wine Show.

Hanging Rock Winery and Speckle Park Cattle Stud, Macedon Ranges

Proprietor/Managing Director, current.

Winemaker, 1983-2010

Viticulture - Other

Foundation Winemaker and General Manager, Tisdall Wines, Victoria, 1978-1985

Foundation Winemaker, Rosemount Estate, New South Wales, 1975-1978

Winemaker, Krondorf and Yalumba, South Australia, 1971-74

Cattle Breeding

Chairman, Speckle Park Southern Breeders.

Committee Member, Speckle Park Featured Breed Royal Melbourne Show.

Committee Member, Stud Beef Victoria Cattle Handlers Camp.

Awards and Recognition include:

Outstanding Contribution by an Individual,

Victorian Tourism Awards, 2007.

Official Legend, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, 2007.

French Flair Award, French-Australian Chamber of Commerce, 2007.

Centenary Medal, 2003.

Distinguished Service Award, Victorian Wine Industry Association, 1994.