HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Kevin Sobels  began his winemaking career in a winery owned by the Hardy family in Waikerie, South Australia under the guidance of his soon to be father in law. He spent two years working here before being appointed as assistant winemaker at the Saltrams winery in the Barossa. In 1967 at the age of 24, Seppelt’s appointed him as winemaker/manager of their Chateau Tanunda winery where he worked until he gained complete control of the winery in 1970. By 1971 the combined crush of the wineries had risen to 30,000 tonnes. Late in 1972 he moved to live in Muswellbrook to build a small winery and was asked to join a new wine venture called Denman Estate. Because of the demand for bulk wine, our Legend and his wife Margaret decided to establish their own winery in Muswellbrook, still making all Denman Estate wines, most of which were sent to South Australia, but some of which were kept to start establishing their own Queldinburg label.

By the time the ‘86 Muswellbrook vintage was over, they had negotiated a deal to buy ‘Tamalee’ a winery in Pokolbin. This new venture only lasted a few years, and following a dispute with a business partner, the pair once again relocated all of their plant, this time to the corner of Broke and Halls Road, and so began and remains Kevin Sobels Wines. With a rich family history in winemaking dating back over 160 years, this year, Kevin the 5th generation Sobels was assisted by his son Jason to make their 167th consecutive vintage thus continuing an unbroken record unrivalled in Australia.

Kevin Sobels was inducted as a Legend in 2014.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Patrick Auld came to the Hunter Valley in 1973 to work for Brian McGuigan at the Hermitage Winery development. In April 1974, he joined Tulloch Wines as a Laboratory Assistant and, in 1979, was appointed Winemaker.

In 1996, Patrick was appointed to the position of Manager / Senior Winemaker of the Southcorp interests in the Hunter Valley. This included serving fourteen years on the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association (HVVA), with two years as President, during which he oversaw the amalgamation of the HVVA and Wine Hunter Marketing to become the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association.

With the sale of the Tulloch Winery in 2005, Patrick transferred with Southcorp to Great Western, Victoria, for a period before returning to Pokolbin as General Manager Production for Pooles Rock Wines. Patrick then went on to be the Winemaker of Oakvale Wines.  Patrick has been a tireless member of the Pokolbin community, involving himself in the now-infamous Pokolbin Ball, and various wine industry organisations, both locally and nationally, but is perhaps most fondly associated with his role as Santa Claus at the Pokolbin District Christmas Party for many years.

Patrick currently holds the position of Director of Operations at the Cumulus Winery located in the Orange region.

Patrick Auld was inducted as a Legend in 2012.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Ian Scarborough is the patriarch of the family and known by many in the region simply as Scarbie. After graduating from Roseworthy College in 1969 with a Diploma of Oenology, Ian worked with Peter Lehmann at Saltrams from 1970–72.

In 1973, he moved to the Hunter Valley as chief winemaker at Tullochs. During the 1980s, Ian acted as a successful winemaker and wine consultant for several Hunter wineries. This provided him with an insight and knowledge that was well used in the formation of Scarborough Wine Company.

Quietly spoken, part of the old guard of Hunter Winemakers, Scarbie is hard working and proud he has left a lasting legacy for the next generation. If Scarbie is not in the winery, he’s on a tractor, if he’s not on the tractor he’s at one of his favourite restaurants drinking something ridiculously good.

Ian Scarborough was inducted as a Legend in 2013.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Don McWilliam commenced employment with McWilliam’s Wines in 1951 and completed his first vintage at Mount Pleasant with the legendary Maurice O’Shea in 1954. In 1957, Don was appointed Director of the company and, over the next five decades, played a significant role in the development of both the Hunter Valley and Australian Wine Industries.

He became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 in recognition of more than 50 years of service to the Australian Wine Industry. During his career, he was active on the boards of The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, The Australian Wine Board, The Australian Wine Research Institute and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia.

In 1990, Don introduced the prestigious Maurice O’Shea Award and was later recognised himself when he became a patron of the wine industry in 1994 and received the Graham Gregory Award in 1995. Don was a pioneer in the development and expansion of the Hunter Valley and his name is synonymous with the legendary wine styles and brands such as Mount Pleasant Elizabeth, Philip, Old Paddock and Old Hill, Lovedale and Rosehill.

Don McWilliam was inducted as a Legend in  2011.