50th Hunter Valley Wine Show: Trophy winners

A judging panel of highly accredited sommeliers and winemakers tasted 639 wines across three days, awarding 14 Top Gold, 44 Gold, 121 Silver and 205 Bronze medals, plus 25 Trophies. The panel was led by Samantha Connew, as Chair of Judges with Jeremy Stockman as International Judge.

Samantha commented that the white varietals, especially Semillon, Chardonnay, and Verdelho, really impressed the judges this year, with the 2022 vintage a real standout.

“The Semillon Classes across the board were all a pleasure to judge with the best wines having a perfect balance of expression and power. The Chardonnay Classes produced some excellent wines which can easily compete with Australia’s best, while the Verdelho impressed the judges with some sensitive winemaking on display. The cooler weather of recent vintages seems to suit the variety and freshness in the majority of the wines. Despite the powerhouse variety of the region being Semillon, it’s great to see people investing time and money into the next cohort of white varieties such as Fiano and Vermentino” added Samantha.

The distinguished Best White Wine of the Show was awarded to Tyrrell’s 2013 Belford Semillon. Tyrrell’s also took out the coveted Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance with their Vat 1 Semillon 2006, 2013, and 2021 vintages and Best Museum White for their 2006 Vat 1 Semillon.

While the white varieties were a highlight of this year’s show, the Hunter Valley reds also performed strongly with the prestigious Best Red Wine of the Show being awarded to De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz for the second year in a row. 

International Wine Judge, Jeremy Stockman, noted “it’s a testament of a great winemaker in Mike De Iuliis to take out the Best Red Wine of the Show for the same wine two consecutive years running. 2019 was a great vintage and this wine displayed beautiful freshness and concentration”.

Best of the best: Trophy winners at the 50th Hunter Valley Wine Show


2022 CCL HUNTER VALLEY WINE SHOW TROPHY WINNERS

Marshall – Flannery Trophy
Best Current – Semillon
Brokenwood Wines 2022 Hunter Valley Semillon

George Wyndham Memorial Trophy
Best Current and One-Year-Old Chardonnay
Silkman Wines 2021 SILK Chardonnay

J.Y. (Jay) Tulloch Trophy
Best Verdelho (Class 7)
Australian Vintage Tempus Two 2022 Copper Verdelho

Best Other White Varietals & White Blends Trophy
Bimbadgen 2022 Hunter Valley Vermentino

Henry John Lindeman Memorial Trophy
Best Two–Year-Old and Older Chardonnay
First Creek Wines 2017 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay

Alexander Munro Memorial Trophy
Best Current Vintage and One year old Shiraz
Thomas Wines 2021 Synergy Shiraz

Ed Jouault Memorial Trophy
Best One-Year-Old Dry Semillon
Brokenwood Wines 2021 Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon

Best Other Red Varietal & Red Blends Trophy
De Iuliis Wines 2019 LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga

James Busby Memorial Trophy
Best Mature Three-Year-Old and Older Shiraz
De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz

McGuigan Family Trophy
Best Two-Year–Old and older Semillon
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2013 Belford Semillon

Doug Galbraith Memorial Trophy
Best Off Dry or Sweet Wine
Margan 2016 Botrytis Semillon
Trevor Drayton Memorial Trophy
Best Fortified Wine or Vermouth
Drayton’s Wines NV Heritage Vines Verdelho

John Lewis Newcastle Herald Trophy
Best Museum Red Wine
Brokenwood 2014 Verona Vineyard Shiraz

Graham Gregory Memorial Trophy
Best Museum White (Class 24) Sponsored by RSN Australia
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2006 Vat 1 Semillon

Best Rosé Trophy
Best Rosé
Gartelmann Wines 2022 Veronica Rosé Shiraz

Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy
Best Shiraz
De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz

Maurice O’Shea Memorial Trophy
Best Semillon
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2013 Belford Semillon

Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy
Best Chardonnay
Silkman Wines 2021 SILK Chardonnay

Lone Pine Barracks Officers Mess Silver Bullet
Audrey Wilkinson 2022 Winemakers Selection Gewurztraminer

Drayton Family Trophy
Best Single Vineyard Red Wine
Margan 2019 White Label Fordwich Hill Shiraz

Tyrrell Family Trophy
Best Single Vineyard White Wine
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2013 Belford Semillon

Len Evans Trophy
Best Single Vineyard Wine
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2013 Belford Semillon

Petrie-Drinan Trophy
Best White Wine of the Show
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2013 Belford Semillon

Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy
Best Red Wine of the Show
De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz

Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd Vat 1 Semillon 2006, 2013 & 2021