Sally Evans has been crowned as this year’s Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) Legend of the Vine at a recent 2024 Sydney Royal Wine Trophy Winners Lunch.
Evans is a Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Board member and Sydney Royal Wine Committee Councillor.
Joining the RAS Council in 2010, Sally has contributed to the development and growth of the Sydney Royal Wine Show as a judge, committee member, and RAS Wine Committee Chair, a role she held for six years.
“Being named a Legend of the Vine is beyond my wildest dreams. It’s an incredible honour to join such a stellar list of contributors, many of them my own mentors and friends. I am just so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful industry (since birth) and proud to have been able to do my bit along the way,” said Evans.
Evans has also given her time to the Sydney Royal Fine Food Committee and RAS Foundation, and now sits on the RAS Board of Directors.
She is the twelfth person to be awarded Legend of the Vine status in NSW, and joins a prestigious national list.
“WCA is delighted to be able to honour Sally. Whilst small in stature, she is very mighty in her contributions and is a true friend to the Australian wine industry,” said WCA executive chair and RAS Wine committee chair, Angus Barnes.
Evans joined the industry by becoming the Wine Buyer for Michael Morgan which was followed by a long stint back in Australia as the McWilliams Wine Group marketing manager.
There, she was the first female member of the executive team, and held several board positions.
With over 20 years of wine marketing, communicating and consulting under her belt, she also has a very distinguished career in volunteering.
She became involved in the Len Evans Tutorial and Len Evans Foundation in 2006 and is currently the Chair of this organisation.
The Evans family have a long and proud association with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, with Sally’s father, Len Evans, joining the Sydney Royal Wine Show judging panel in 1963 and taking on the role of Chair of Judges from 1978 to 2000.