Wine news
Celebrating outstanding service and achievements with Legends Awards
The annual Legends Awards united more than 360 industry professionals and guests from the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industry. The awards honour the region’s rich and vibrant history, celebrating the lasting influence and legacy of those who contribute outstanding service to the industry. The pinnacle of the awards is the announcement of the Hunter Valley Living Legends which this year were awarded to Colin Peterson and John Drayton.
Iain Riggs AM, Chair of the Living Legends said, “Colin and John are names and personalities that are synonymous with the commercial success of the Hunter Valley over many years. The region is stronger for their leadership and contribution to the local community.”
Colin Peterson, inducted as the 2024 Wine Industry Living Legend, enjoys widespread recognition in the Hunter Valley and across Australia for Petersons Wines. From its origins in 1964, Colin has led the family business since 2000 and now employs over 250 people. In 2017, Colin and Brian McGuigan purchased Ben Ean, the former Lindeman’s Estate returning the property to its 174-year historical roots of the Hunter.
The career of 2024 Tourism Industry Living Legend John Drayton, started in 1989 when he joined the family business, Drayton’s Family Wines, whose family legacy now stands at over 170 years. John was a Board representative and Chairman of Cessnock City Tourism and Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism for 19 years and his leadership laid the foundations for the success of the region as a wine tourism destination. John was also recognised for his exceptional commitment to community service.
Jennie Curran, CEO of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association said of the award recipients, “the achievements serve as a testament to our long history and bright future”.
2024 Winemaker of the Year was awarded to Stuart Hordern. Boasting 15 vintages at Brokenwood, Stuart is only the second person in the 54-year history of the company to hold the General Manager position. In 2023 Brokenwood won an exceptional 5 Trophies and 24 Gold medals, as well as the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show. Stuart was President of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association 2021 – 2023.
The 2024 Viticulturist of the Year was presented to third generation Thomas Hordern of Glenesk Vineyard and Emily Glover, Winemaker at De Iuliis Wines, was awarded the 2024 Young Achiever of the Year.
Tourism Operator of the Year for 2024 was awarded, for the second consecutive year, to Stay n’ Sip who continue to grow their on-site fun and educational wine experiences.
Margan Wines and Restaurant took the title of Wine Selectors 2024 Cellar Door of the Year marking a hat-trick for them in this award category.
The 2024 Outstanding Contribution of an Individual was awarded to Brad Russ, General Manager at Tulloch Wines who is celebrating thirty years working in the Hunter Valley wine industry.
The winemakers and critics are excited
Adrian Sparks Chief Winemaker at Mount Pleasant is not known for being effusive, but the newly released 2023 red wines have him excited. According to Adrian, “all the stars aligned and 2023 was an exceptional vintage”.
Adrian explained, “after 2 wet previous vintages, there was excellent soil moisture and slow cool ripening which allowed the flavours to accumulate with excellent retention of acid and tannins. With vintage two weeks later than usual and no heat waves or rain, there was no pressure and we could pick at exactly the right time”.
Adrian enthused “These are wines of beauty, finesse and elegance. 2023’s are medium bodied but have fruit power, precision, detail, fine tannins and length. I love them!”
As custodian of the legacy of arguably Australia’s greatest winemaker Maurice O’Shea, Adrian muses, “we are aiming to express the true potential of these vineyards and it’s exciting that the positive feedback on the 2023 wines, from customers and reviewers reinforces our path”.
Tasting these wines is virtually like sipping history in a glass. The Mount Henry is a unique blend of 82% shiraz from the 1946 Rosehill vines and the Mothervine vineyard, which is the oldest pinot in Australia. With fragrant florals, bright cherry fruit and Chinese five-spice, it has a lovely structure on the palate. The Old Paddock Old Hill Shiraz is sourced from vines planted in 1880 and 1920. Perfumed with rich blue fruits and a touch of liquorice, it has a savoury long finish. The Mountain A Shiraz has violets and raspberries in an elegant pinotesque style that dances on the palate.
Finally, the Old Hill from 143-year-old shiraz vines is more intense with dark fruits, plum, spice and tannin that ensures it will be long lived.
Adrian believes this vintage deserves the hype, “in the past 10 years, the 2014, 2018 and now the 2023 vintages have been the strongest”. It seems the critics agree, with reviewers scoring the 2023 range between 95–97 points. Time to stock up!
The Hunter Valley shines on the world stage
Now in its 21st year, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) has established itself as the world’s largest and most influential wine competition with over 18,000 wines evaluated. Renowned for its rigorous judging process and world-class judges, DWWA results are coveted by the wine industry and trusted globally.
This year, Australia has come runner up to France at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London, taking out eight of the 50 Best in Show awards. Overall, Australia took out 71 top medals including gold, platinum and Best in Show.
Awarded to only 0.28% of entrants, locally the 2014 McGuigan 9000 Hunter Valley Semillon was in the top 50 wines in the world taking out a Best in Show award.
Judges commented: “This is the sixth time a Hunter Valley Semillon has featured in our Best in Show selection, so faithful followers of the DWWA results fanfare will by now be well acquainted with this unique indigenous style of Semillon.”
Brokenwood Wines also picked up a Gold medal for their soon to be released 2018 Brokenwood Wines ILR Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon. Congratulations to both McGuigan Wines and Brokenwood.
Make the most of your weekend with Wine and Chill
The philosophy of “good food, good wines and good friends” at Saddler’s Creek sounds like a recipe for success. If you’re looking for the perfect way to cruise into your weekend, Saddler’s Creek offer “Wine and Chill” every Friday night 4-8pm. It’s perfect if you want to kick back after wine tastings when most cellar doors have closed, to enjoy a few glasses of wine and food with some local music. With plenty of alfresco outdoor and undercover seating spaces, you can enjoy the Spring weather or keep warm on cool nights with the cosy firepit ambiance and a ready supply of lap blankets.
Saddler’s Eats Airstream Food Van showcases local produce with it’s delicious casual tapas-style dishes, pair perfectly with the extensive Saddler’s Creek range of wines by the glass or local craft brews. Add music and you have everything you need to unwind after a busy week.
Saddler’s Creek has created a fabulous vibe for locals meeting up with friends or those arriving in the Valley late on a Friday afternoon who want to start their weekend just right.
In addition to wine tastings, they also offer wine, food and music from 12pm on Saturday or Sunday, so you can drop by anytime. And, if it’s booked experiences you’re after, Saddler’s offer an incredible range of Masterclasses, Food and Wine Pairing experiences, plus seasonal events like the upcoming Picnic in the Vines Spring Carnival on 21 September.
For those who like a little on the side
Not content to make a great range of wines, Gundog Estate have released a range of locally made gourmet condiments infused with their wines. Whilst Gundog have always had a gourmet pantry, they decided to go a step further and develop their own range. After a long period of trial and error to get the flavours and the range just right, they now have five products, each uniquely delicious.
If you love a decadent cheese plate, try adding the Gundog Fig and Pinot chutney – it also works equally well with cold cut meats or even a good curry. The Gundog Smoking Barrel Caramelised Onions is perfect with a tasty cheddar or barbequed meats.
The Wild Sweet Chilli Sauce is based on their most popular white wine, the Gundog Wild Semillon. This fabulous condiment pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or as a dipping sauce for your favourite dumplings.
The Gundog Pinot Puttanesca sauce is a staff favourite for a quick and easy meal. This classic Italian pasta sauce benefits from a splash of Pinot Noir to build body and richness and aside from pasta, this sauce can also be used in risotto, a layered vegetable bake or with meatballs.
Finally, don’t miss the Blueberry and Shiraz jam. This fruit-packed jam is a classic spread for toast, pancakes, or scones with jam and cream. It’s also versatile enough to be used in a red wine sauce or mixed with mustard to create a glaze for roast meats.
First Creek’s First Lady named Halliday Winemaker of the Year
At the Australian Wine industry’s night-of-nights on Wednesday 7 August in Melbourne, the Silkman family became winemaking royalty as Chief Winemaker Liz Silkman was named 2025 Halliday Winemaker of the Year, the first Hunter Valley winemaker to ever earn this title.
Liz and her husband Shaun, both born and raised in the Hunter Valley, launched Silkman Wines as a side venture in 2013 while juggling their roles in the family business at First Creek and raising a young family. Silkman Wines became their creative outlet, allowing them the freedom to experiment with different wine styles. In addition to Liz’s personal accolade, Silkman was also shortlisted for Best Winery as well as taking home the title of Semillon of the Year for their Silkman Blackberry Semillon 2023 amassing an exceptional 98-point score.
“Anyone that knows me will attest to the fact that I’m not one for the limelight, so I’m still in shock at being named Halliday Winemaker of the Year,” says Liz Silkman of her win.
“For me, it’s incredibly rewarding to see that 27 wines that were reviewed by Halliday this year scored 95 points or more. I’m thrilled to see that it’s not just Chardonnay and Semillon taking the big scores. There is plenty of recognition amongst our scores for some of our Limited Release wines like Vermentino and Fiano.”
Discover more in the Spring Edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.
Written by Cathy Gadd.
