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14 August 2020

A trifecta for the Hunter Valley as Halliday names his Wine of the Year

In a first in the history of Halliday, the annual Wine Companion Awards were announced via a virtual event last Wednesday 5th August in Melbourne.

It was a night of firsts for the Hunter Valley too, with a Hunter Valley wine being named Wine of the Year, one of only 6 top categories in the widely respected annual Australian wine awards.

Brokenwood’s flagship Graveyard Shiraz 2018 now carries the prestigious title 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year title and clearly places Hunter Valley Shiraz on the global stage with it’s 99-point score.

Not only is this a significant result for the region which prides itself on its two signature varieties - Shiraz and Semillon, but tops off a 40 year career at the helm of Brokenwood for retiring Managing Director/Chief Winemaker Iain Riggs who walks away with the trifecta having his namesake wine Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2014 (also 99 points) being named Semillon of the Year for the second year in a row, and the outstanding  Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz 2018 also being crowned Shiraz of the Year.

“It’s certainly a top result for our 30th Graveyard release. But for me these three gongs just confirm that Semillon and Shiraz are perfect styles for the Hunter. It’s a unique combination of variety, terroir and style that really works.” says Iain of his parting gesture, and also pays tribute to the team behind these great wines including Brokenwood’s Senior Winemaker Stuart Hordern.

Every year the six-person Halliday panel, headed by James Halliday AM, Australia’s foremost wine critic, tastes around 10,000 of Australia’s best wines and scores them points out of 100 based on their quality. It’s one of only a couple of references that both trade and consumers rely on to make buying decisions that relate to Australian wine, so any rating or award within the annual industry bible is sought after by our industry.

It’s 5-star winery rating system is also much anticipated and coincides with the print release each year of the celebrated Companion. The highly sought after “Top Red 5 Star” rating and “Red 5 Star” listings being the goal for so many winemakers.

The 2021 ‘bible’ lists 31 Hunter Valley wineries as Five Star producers. Of those 6 are rated the best of the best – “Top Red Five Star” namely, Brokenwood, Lake’s Folly, Meerea Park, Mount Pleasant, Thomas Wines and Tyrrell’s Wines and 14 “Red Five Star” wineries, both incredible ratings for our region.

“To have so many of our wineries named amongst the best of the best on the back of a year that’s brought so many challenges is a terrific lift for our region. Congratulations to all the winners around the country, and to all our 5 star hunter wineries, and of course to Brokenwood.” Christina Tulloch, President Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association comments.

-ENDS-

For further information, images, interview or comment please contact

Kylie White, White Ink on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0401 408 080

Wineries named Best in the Hunter Valley Region

2021 Halliday Wine Companion 5 Star Wineries

• Audrey Wilkinson
• Bimbadgen
• Briar Ridge Vineyard
• Brokenwood
• Capercaillie
• Carillion Wines
• Cockfighter’s Ghost/Poole’s Rock
• De Iuliis Wines
• First Creek Wines
• Gartelmann Wines
• Glenguin Estate
• Gundog Estate
• Hart & Hunter
• Keith Tulloch Wine
• Lake’s Folly
• Leogate Estate Wines
• McLeish Estate
• Margan Family Wines
• Meerea Park
• Mount Pleasant
• Mount View Estate
• Pepper Tree Wines
• Ridgeview Estate
• Silkman Wines
• Stomp Wines
• Thomas Wines
• Tinkler’s Vineyard
• Tulloch Wines
• Tyrrell’s
• Vinden Estate
• Whispering Brook