Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and may I say congratulations. Last week I had the privilege to explore the Great Western wine region in Victoria. At the coming election, my electorate of Mallee will welcome Great Western into its constituency, along with the towns of Halls Gap and Stawell. Those who know Great Western will certainly be familiar with Best's wines. Ben Thomson, who is the fifth-generation owner, and his wife, Nicole, now run Best's wines and welcomed me to their vineyard to tour the historical cellars and gain a snapshot into the history of the region. Best's Great Western boasts a legacy beginning in 1866 and continues to this day, producing some of Australia's best wines. In this beautiful pocket of Victoria, Ben tends to some of Victoria's oldest vines, which were planted in the 1860s. They are among the oldest and rarest pre-phylloxera plantings in the world. They have earned themselves numerous accolades and awards, including Best Value Winery of the Year 2021 in the James Halliday wine competition. I'm proud to showcase some of their products in my parliamentary office here in Canberra, and I look forward to showcasing their wine, along with many other notable products from Mallee, at my magnificent Mallee events next year.

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