Hunter Valley Legends Awards

Celebrating our past, our present and our future, the Hunter Valley Legends Awards recognises and honours those who have made major contributions and excelled within the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industries.

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

This award recognises an individual, or group, for honourable contributions benefiting the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Industries generally.

• 2019 Brian McGuigan AM
• 2021 Liz Riley & Scott Bartlett

 

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR

This award is to recognise a Hunter Valley winemaker who has achieved success on the show circuit and has made major commitments to the promotion of not only their own wines but the Hunter Valley and its wines in general.

• 2007 Andrew Spinaze - Tyrrell's Vineyards
• 2008 Andrew Thomas - Thomas Wines
• 2009 Jim Chatto - Pepper Tree Wines
• 2010 PJ Charteris - Brokenwood Wines
• 2011 Liz Jackson - First Creek Wines
• 2012 Nick Paterson - Dugliani Winemaking & Consulting
• 2013 Peter Hall - McGuigan Wines
• 2014 Andrew Thomas - Thomas Wines
• 2015 Mike De Iuliis - De Iuliis Wines
• 2016 Liz Jackson - First Creek Wines
• 2017 Mark Richardson - Tyrrell's Wines
• 2018 Stuart Hordern - Brokenwood Wines
• 2019 Adrian Sparks - Mount Pleasant Wines
• 2021 Andrew Margan - Margan Wines and Restaurant
• 2022 Liz Silkman - Silkman Wines & First Creek Wines
• 2023 Andrew Thomas - Thomas Wines
• 2024 Stuart Hordern - Brokenwood Wines

 

 

VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR

This award is to recognise an outstanding viticulturist involved in the management of Hunter Valley vineyards. The award recognises that any outstanding wine starts with good vineyard management resulting in quality grapes.

• 2007 Mt. Pleasant Lovedale Vineyard
• 2008 Ken Bray - Hunter Valley Vineyard Management
• 2009 Ian Tinkler - Tinkler's Vineyard
• 2010 Brett Keeping - Two Rivers
• 2011 Liz Riley - Vitibit Pty Ltd
• 2012 Carl Davies - Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
• 2013 Katrina Barry & Keith Barry - Brokenwood Wines
• 2014 Louise Eather, Pernod Ricard Winemakers - Wyndham Estate
• 2015 Andrew Margan - Margan Wines
• 2016 Paul Harvey - Mount Pleasant Wines
• 2017 Andrew Pengilly - Tyrrell's Wines
• 2018 Neil Stevens - Glen Oak Wines
• 2019 Brett Keeping - Two River Wines
• 2021 Steve Ferguson - Mount Pleasant Wines
• 2022 Jerome Scarborough - Scarborough Wine Co.
• 2023 Nicolas Looby - Margan Wines & Restaurant
• 2024 Thomas Hordern - Glenesk Vineyard

 

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR (Previously: Rising Star of the Year)

This award recognises an individual, less than 35 years of age, working in a Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism business and their contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional wine and tourism industry.

• 2007 Christina Tulloch - Tulloch Wines
• 2008 Usher Tinkler - Pooles Rock Wines
• 2009 Sarah Crowe - Brokenwood Wines
• 2010 Matt Burton - Wandin Valley Estate
• 2011 Jeff Byrne - Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
• 2012 Chris Tyrrell - Tyrrell Vineyards
• 2013 Sally Scarborough - Scarborough Wine Co.
• 2014 Belinda Stapleton - Spicers Vineyards Estate & Restaurant Botanica
• 2015 Joint Winners: Troy & Megan Rhoades-Brown - Muse Restaurant & Muse Kitchen | Gwyn Olsen - Briar Ridge 
• 2016 Belinda Paterson - Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley
• 2017 Rauri Donkin - Bimbadgen Estate
• 2018 Aaron Mercer - Tamburlaine Organic Wines
• 2019 Angus Vinden - Vinden Estate Wines
• 2021 Nicole Wilson - Margan Wines and Restaurant
• 2022 Alex Beckett - Briar Ridge Vineyard
• 2023 Jenna Vaughan - De Iuliis Wines
• 2024 Emily Glover - De Iuliis Wines

 

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL

This award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual to the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism industries generally. It is to acknowledge those who go over and above their own commercial focus to contribute to the broader industry.

• 2022 Christina Tulloch - Tulloch Wines
• 2023 Liz Riley - Vitibit
• 2024 Brad Russ - Tulloch Wines

 

CELLAR DOOR OF THE YEAR

This award is to recognise a cellar door with outstanding public relations, sales technique, presentation and attitude.

• 2007 Tulloch Wines
• 2008 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant
• 2009 Scarborough Wine Co.
• 2010 Brokenwood Wines
• 2011 Pepper Tree Wines
• 2012 Hungerford Hill Wines
• 2013 Margan Family Wines
• 2014 Tulloch Wines
• 2015 Tyrrell's Wines
• 2016 De Iuliis Wines
• 2017 Thomas Wines
• 2018 Margan Family Wines
• 2019 Brokenwood Wines
• 2020 Glandore Estate
• 2021 Scarborough Wine Co.
• 2022 De Iuliis Wines
• 2023 Winmark Wines
• 2024 Margan Wines & Restaurant

 

TOURISM OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

This award recognises excellence provided by a Hunter Valley Tourism Operator.

• 2022 Beyond Ballooning
• 2023 Stay n' Sip
• 2024 Stay n' Sip

  

ACCOMMODATION OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

This award recognises excellence provided by a Hunter Valley Tourism Accommodation Operator.

• 2022 Spicers Guesthouse
• 2023 Spicers Guesthouse
• 2024 Hunter Valley Stays

 

HERITAGE AWARD

As the oldest commercial wine region in Australia, it is incumbent on the Hunter Valley Wine Industry to recognise and preserve the great history that the Hunter Valley has. This Heritage Award is about just that, iconic touchstones of our 193 year old industry that remain to constantly remind us of the Hunter’s forebears.

• 2009 Edward Tyrrell's Slab Hut - Tyrrell's Vineyards
• 2010 Old Cellar - Drayton's Family Wines & Old Vats at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyards
• 2011 The Old Still House - Ben Ean Winery & Maurice O'Shea Mount Pleasant Label - Mount Pleasant Winery
• 2012 Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin Dry Red Label
• 2013 Halls Cottage circa 1876 - Roberts Restaurant circa 1876
• 2014 Marthaville Homestead & the 1973 Vintage Festival Poster
• 2017 Rothbury Cemetery
• 2018 Drayton’s Bellevue Wine Label - Drayton Wines
• 2019 Pokolbin Memorial Gates
• 2021 Hunter Valley Heritage Cairn Trail

 

HUNTER VALLEY WINE & TOURISM ASSOCIATION PATRON

The HVWTA Board is bestowing an Honorary Patron position in recognition of an extraordinary contribution and dedication of service over 50 years to the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association.

• 2022 Brian McGuigan AM