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Feed your curiosity at Australia’s biggest celebration of drinking and dining - 21 to 30 March.

MFWF Legends

Celebrating Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s Legends Hall of Fame.

Launched in 1993, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Legends Hall of Fame pays tribute to the leaders, groundbreakers and visionaries of Victoria’s food, drink and hospitality industry. It’s a chance to stop and recognise the significant contribution these individuals have made over the course of their careers. More than 150 Legends have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since the program began. The awards are peer-nominated, and to qualify, a Legend must have made a significant contribution to food or drink, and clocked at least 15 years in hospitality in Victoria. Trailblazers, meanwhile, are Legends in the making who have broken new ground in food or drink, but might not yet have done so over quite so sustained a period of time.

2024 Legends & Trailblazers

This year we welcome in a new era of programming with a Legend and a Trailblazer awarded within each category.

2024 winners

Food Producers, Retailers, Advocates

Legend: Judy Croagh, Western Plains Pork
Trailblazer: John Rivera, Kariton Sorbetes

Communicators, Educators

Legend: Natalie Paull, Beatrix Bakes
Trailblazer: Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Chefs, Restaurateurs, Hospitality Professionals

Legend: Dan Hunter, Brae
Trailblazer: Tom Sarafian, Zareh

Drinks Producers, Retailers, Advocates

Legend: Mac Forbes, Mac Forbes
Trailblazers: Imogen Hayes and Christina Trabucco, TINA

Local Heroes

Legend: Gerald Diffey, Gerald’s Bar
Trailblazers: Chayse and Blayne Bertoncello, O My

Sustainability Champions

Legends: Duncan and Jan Thompson, Murray River Salt
Trailblazer: Ninna Larsen, Reground

Five Minutes with a Legend