Officiator:
Award recipient:
Dr Ian Gould AM
Wolf Blass AM, BVK.
Award being conferred:
Citation delivered by:
Honorary Doctor of the University of South Australia (DUniv)
Mr Nigel Relph (BA (Hons) MA MCIPR) Deputy Vice Chancellor and
Vice President, International and Advancement
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Chancellor, the University of South Australia awards the Honorary Doctorate Degree to a person of eminence who has made a distinguished contribution to public service or a field of academic endeavour. It is my pleasure to present to you Dr Wolf Blass AM for the honorary degree of Doctor of the University, in recognition of his distinguished service to the community.
Throughout a 60-year career in wine production, Wolfgang Franz Otto Blass transformed a modest
2.5 acre landholding in South Australia into what is now Wolf Blass Wines, one of the most successful and awarded wineries in Australia.
After studying and working in the European wine industry for 13 years, Dr Blass migrated to the
Barossa Valley in 1961 and commenced a three-year contracvt with Kaiser Stuhl as Sparkling Wines
Manager. In 1964 he became Australia’s first freelance wine consultant and technical adviser for independent producers. In 1966 he registered the business name Bilyara and produced his first vintage in the same year. By 1973 the first Wolf Blass label (1973 vintage) was made and Wolf Blass
Wines International was established. The next year he began exporting Wolf Blass wines around the world.
From 1969-1973 Dr Blass also worked as Manager and Winemaker for Tolleys where he made the first significant impact on the local wine industry with development of red wine styles. He was considered one of the leaders of the new generation of Australian winemakers, creating individual wines of various styles under his own label.
While his skills were built on the making of white wine, Dr Blass brought the same sensibilities to the making of red wine in Australia and changed the way red wine was made.
Wine writer, James Halliday believes that “Wolf Blass’ great contribution to the Australian wine industry stems from his belief that wine should be at its optimum from the day it is released. He was able to achieve that by sourcing most of his grapes from Langhorne Creek which generally produces soft, fruity flavours well matched with the use of American oak.”
He developed wines that were fuller in flavour, softer in the mouth and easier to drink. The emergence of the ‘new’ wine style in the 1970s was a major reason for the success of Wolf Blass wines. He started his own brand in 1973 and almost immediately won three consecutive Jimmy
Watson trophies. The most prestigious and sought after wine award in Australia, it is awarded

annually at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show to the producer of the best one or two year old, dry, red wine.
Wolf Blass Wines’ growth has been impressive and inspiring which is reflected in their winning more than 3,000 awards at national and international wine shows.
Dr Blass is now Executive Chairman of the Wolf Blass Group of companies, Global Ambassador for
Wolf Blass Wines International, Chairman of the Wolf Blass Foundation and Ambassador for the
Canberra International Riesling Challenge.
In 2001 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia “for service to the development of the Australian wine industry, particularly as an export industry, and to the promotion of excellence in winemaking, viticulture, marketing and research.”
The then Governor of South Australia, Sir Eric Neal AC CVO, who presented Dr Blass with the award, later wrote in the foreword to his biography, Wolf Blass Behind the Bow Tie:
“His zest for life, plain speaking, straight to the point, determined, focused and sometimes outrageous nature, belie an underpinning sense of honesty and integrity. Wolf regards these latter two charactreristics as paramount in his life to date. It is these solid beliefs and energy that have seen him not only develop his opn career and business interests but the careers and businesses of many others, especially in the wine industry. Wolf’s contribution to the Australian wine industry is legend.”
In 2006 Dr Blass was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany, one if its most prestigious awards and given “for his oustanding contyribution to cultural life and nurturing positive relationships between the peoples of Germany and Australia”.
Today Wolf Blass wines are exported to more than 50 countries and the Wolf Blass brand is recognised internationally as a producer of premium wines. Over 65 million bottles of Wolf Blass branded wines have been sold worldwide since that first 1973 vintage, generating significant profits for South Australia.
Chancellor, on behalf of the University of South Australia, I am pleased to present Wolf Blass AM, for the honorary degree of Doctor of the University, in recognition of his distinguished service to the community.