The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy is the most eagerly sought wine award in Australia. It is awarded annually to the producer of the best one-year-old dry red wine in the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. The Trophy is a memorial to the late Jimmy Watson – the proprietor of the Wine Bar in Lygon Street, Carlton, Victoria that still bears his name. Its origins were detailed in a speech by his son, Allan Watson, on 9 July 2002 (see below for full speech) at the media launch for the 2002 Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Here is an extract from that speech:

" In February 1962 Jimmy Watson died. And at the funeral, those people present, decided to honour this extraordinary man's contribution to the wine and food industry.

" It was decided to have an award in the Royal Agricultural Show of Victoria - the wine section. The parameter was thus:

" As Jimmy would go and select young wines and ask the vignerons to hold the wine in casks for six months to age, then after that, send the wines in hogsheads to him to bottle, he would then recommend these to his clients to purchase and cellar themselves.

" Therefore the obvious category for any ‘Jimmy Watson Memorial' trophy was the wine of the previous vintage of judging, approximately 18 months old … red of course.

" I am afraid that many wine writers and critics are oblivious to these facts, and there have been many misinterpretations of the Award. However, vignerons are very envious of this prestigious trophy.”

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" I would like to start by giving a little history of the Watson family.

" In the late 1880’s Benedetto Panelli, my great grandfather, who at the time was in the employ of King Vittore Emmanuel of Italy, decided to emigrate to Australia – quite abruptly, because he was accused if poaching game on the church’s property.

" He brought with him, his four daughters, Amelia, Velia, Giselda and Artemisa.

" The family was based at Hastings Victoria, a fishing village and survived by mending fishermen’s nets. The four girls married. Amelia to a chef who worked with Denat. Who was, married to a sister of Jim Watson Senior. Café Denat was in Bourke Street and commanded a guinea for a meal. Velia to Tony Virgona who had wine shops in Fitzroy at the time. Misa to Percy Ferguson, a pastry cook – now Ferguson/Plarre. Giselda, my grandmother married Jim Watson from Tasmania, a prospector. Giselda had three children, Edmond, James my father and Grace, who married Rinaldo Massoni of Florentino fame. Giselda had a wine shop in Gertrude Street Fitzroy.

" So, the whole family were pioneering the catering industry in Melbourne.

" My father was a professional musician, a flautist, who played in orchestras during the " silent and talkies” era, at theatres such as Capitol, State, Regent Metro and Palais of St Kilda.

" In 1935, Dad had the opportunity to buy 333 Lygon Street, Carlton, a wine shop, and proceeded to change the drinking habits of Melbourne.

" Because of his acquired knowledge of wine, he purged the place of the standard ‘plonkos’ and with the near proximity to the University of Melbourne he promoted the use of table wines with food.

" Of course in those days University staff who, on overseas sabbatical in Europe ,were accustomed to marry food with wine in pleasant surroundings.

" And Dad encouraged this.

" In the fifties Jimmy had an arrangement with the RAS - the contract to buy the left over exhibits of the Wine Show.

" Having taken his clients to the Showground tastings, they were able, with their catalogues, to come to Carlton and purchase bottles for 2/6 pence … to increase their cellars … Gold, Silver and Bronze medallion wines, and 'also-rans' were available. Many a cellar was enhanced.

" Dad described the " shop” as a wine distributing center.

" On February 1962 Jimmy Watson died. And at the funeral, those people present, decided to honour this extraordinary man's contribution to the wine and food industry.

" It was decided to have an award in the Royal Agricultural Show of Victoria - the wine section. The parameter was thus:

" As Jimmy would go and select young wines and ask the vignerons to hold the wine in casks for six months to age, then after that, send the wines in hogsheads to him to bottle, he would then recommend these to his clients to purchase and cellar themselves.

" Therefore the obvious category for any ‘Jimmy Watson Memorial' trophy was, the wine of the previous vintage of judging, approximately 18 months old … red of course.

" I am afraid that many wine writers and critics are oblivious to these facts, and there have been many misinterpretations of the Award. However, vignerons are very envious of this prestigious trophy.

" I believe that the RAS is reinforcing a governing regulatory process to control the quality, and quantity of the on-going product of the Award.

" It is with great pride that the Watson Family sees the Award going forward to great heights, and producing some of the best potential of reds that Australia can provide.

" We are also very proud that this Award honors a gentle, honest, wine merchant ... Jimmy Watson.

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