The McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association has raised a toast to the region’s top businesses at its annual awards ceremony, held tonight (Friday 16 October).

The following category winners were announced at the event, held at the Eileen Hardy Room at Hardys Tintara Winery:

Employee: Vanessa Pellaschiar, Hastwell Travel & Cruise

Home-Based Business: Julia Brown, Naturopath and Remedial Massage 

Hospitality: Hotel McLaren Vale 

New Business: McLaren Vale Enterprises 

Professional & Business Services: Hastwell Travel & Cruise 

Retail: The Bloke Shop 

Tourism: McLaren Vale Studio Apartments 

People’s Choice Award: RepairTech.

Julia Brown was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, having won three years in a row.

A total of 226 nominations were received in this year’s awards.

This year’s independent judging panel comprised local foodie and entrepreneur Pip Forrester, Aldinga Beach Community Bank chairperson Ron Logan and former Onkaparinga mayor Lorraine Rosenberg.

More than 1500 votes were received for the People’s Choice Awards.

Over the past 16 years, the awards have recognised quiet achievers in the McLaren Vale area, and it has been an especially tough year for local businesses in the current global pandemic.

Awards committee member Jenni Mitten says the committee felt it was more important than ever to continue with the awards program in 2020. 

“We are proud to be presenting the awards tonight to very deserving, hard working businesses in our region,” Jenni says. 

“We also thank our sponsors, many of whom we have had relationships with since the commencement of the awards program more than 15 years ago.

“The community has rallied to support local business during a tough year and we hope to see this continue not only for our award winners but all members of the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association.”

The team at Hastwell Travel & Cruise had a particularly successful night, taking out the Professional & Business Services and Employee categories.