Margaret River’s Cassandra Camerer-Charlick wins prestigious international emerging wine talent award

Wine writer and broadcaster Cassandra Camerer-Charlick has won a prestigious international prize recognising her role as an emerging voice in the global industry.

Camerer-Charlick was named last month in the International Wine and Spirit Competition awards for the emerging talent in wine communication trophy, scoring the coup ahead of eminent international candidates.

“I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I won it, to be honest,” the Margaret River resident said.

In naming Camerer-Charlick for the award, judges said they were won over by “an exciting fresh voice in the industry”.

“Our panel was very impressed by how Cassandra bridges the gap between the traditional wine world and the emerging one with her brilliant articles and videos,” they said.

“The judges were amazed by Cassandra’s boundless energy and passion.”

The prize included a $5000 travel bursary Camerer-Charlick said would help her in the development of a new book about “mindful wine”, and she was also investigating sustainable packaging products she wanted to see implemented across the industry.

Although the book project was in its infancy, Camerer-Charlick told the Times she hoped to work with an established publisher to bring her concept to light.

“I think wine has the capacity to bring people together and connect individuals and communities like nothing else can,” she said.

“There certainly is a place for mindful consumption of wine, which is a discussion that has been overshadowed in recent years by the no and low-alcohol movement.

“Sustainability is the key, and while environmental action and being green is an essential starting point to care for our planet, there is so much more to living sustainably and making and drinking wine sustainability.”

On that note, her packaging concept was about “being the change, not just talking about it”.

“Some producers are doing great things with lightweight glass and the like,” she said.

“However, some wineries need to seriously examine the impact of unnecessary packaging on the environment.”

The majority of consumers bought wine to enjoy, not to stock their cellar, and the value placed on heavy bottles needed reconsideration, Camerer-Charlick said.

Alternative packaging could reduce the cost to the planet while also encouraging moderation, she said.

Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland lauded Camerer-Charlick for the win.

“We are really pleased to have the IWSC heading back to judge in Margaret River again this June, after the success of the inaugural year, last year,” she said.

“It is also great to see Margaret River local Cassandara Charlick receive their 2024 trophy for emerging talent in wine communication from the same highly regarded global wine and spirit competition.”