In March 2011, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival inducted my son Alister into their Legends program – of course I already knew he was one!

Launched in 1993, The Legends of Melbourne Food and Wine pays tribute to the leaders, groundbreakers and visionaries of Victoria's food and wine industry.

“A Melbourne Food and Wine Legend is someone who is not satisfied with just meeting market expectations and running a successful wine, food or restaurant business. Rather, they are driven by a passion to strive for groundbreaking perfection whether it is creating an artisan cheese or world-beating restaurant, blazing a wine trail, or shaping the next generation of food professionals.” MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

Alister was humbled to be included alongside the likes of James Halliday, Gilbert Lau, Stephanie Alexander, Elisabeth Chong and Jacques Reymond amongst many others.

“The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is now recognised as one of the world’s leading festivals of its kind and to be considered as a legend by the Festival’s panel is a great honour. …… this wonderful achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of many people, including five generations of Purbricks at Tahbilk.” Alister Purbrick