New era for Halliday Wine Companion
Following the successful release of the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion, the much-loved guide is entering a new era. After more than 30 years of producing the annual guides to Australian wine, James Halliday is stepping back from his management role on the publication, with esteemed reviewer, writer, judge, presenter and author Tyson Stelzer set to take on the newly created role of chief editor.
With almost 20 years of industry experience behind him, Tyson is a natural fit for the role and looking forward to embarking on a new era for Wine Companion. His appointment to the position comes with the full support of James and the Companion’s publisher Hardie Grant.
“This is a decision that reflects a move I made a number of years ago to share the load with a tasting team,” James says, now with five panellists behind the 2021 Companion. “It’s been apparent to me there has to be someone who can commit a great deal of time and effort to it. This is more than just being a panellist – it’s been obvious that someone has to step into the role of editor, and I’ve said from the outset that Tyson almost self-selects.”
James will continue to taste wine and produce articles for the Halliday website, magazine and guide, which remains a joint venture between James and Hardie Grant. He will also play a role in the annual Halliday Wine Companion Awards, working with Tyson and the team to pinpoint the deserving winners. In addition, James will continue to write for The Weekend Australian, including the annual Top 100.
“I am excited for this new chapter in my career and look forward to leading new initiatives to support the local wine industry while continuing to share my love of fine wine,” James says.
