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Hunter Valley dominates for Shiraz and Semillon varietals at widely respected annual Australian wine awards
13 August 2021
The Hunter Valley wine region has again taken out two of the prestigious top varietal awards at this year’s 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. For the second year in a row, and the third time in seven years, the Hunter Valley has won the best Shiraz of the year with the 2019 Tyrrell’s 4 Acres Shiraz claiming the title. Semillon of the Year was awarded to Meerea Park for their 2011 Alexander Munro Individual Vineyard Aged Release Semillon.
These awards crown the Hunter Valley as the very best of the best and cement its reputation for producing world class Shiraz and Semillon varietals. This significant result for the Hunter Valley comes on the back of the Brokenwood win at the 2021 awards for the Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz 2018. Two of the three finalists for 2022 Shiraz of the Year came from the Hunter Valley: Tyrrell’s and Mount Pleasant.
Announcing the win, Chris Tyrrell, Chief Operating Officer at Tyrrell’s Wines, said “This award validates the decision we made nearly two decades ago to re-focus our Shiraz program and highlight these special vineyard blocks and give them the attention they have earned. It is also pleasing to see another Hunter Valley wine be recognised as the best Shiraz in the Halliday awards, a feat we have now achieved as a region three times in seven years”.
Bruce Tyrrell, Managing Director at Tyrrell’s Wines, added “the 4 Acres is one of the nine Shiraz blocks in the Hunter Valley on its own roots and over 100 years old. If these vineyards had not consistently made great wine they would not still be here”.
The Hunter Valley has also once again dominated the globally unique category of Semillon with an aged release by Meerea Park. The 2011 Alexander Munro Individual Vineyard Aged Release Semillon received an almost unanimous vote for Semillon of the Year.Garth Eather, Managing Director of Meerea Park commented “There is nowhere to hide with Semillon and the fruit quality speaks for itself. Meerea Park has sourced Semillon from the ‘Braemore’ Vineyard since 2004. The 2011 vintage was under the custodianship of Ken Bray and now Andrew Thomas’ ownership since 2019. ‘Braemore’ is arguably one of the best and most consistent Semillon vineyards in Australia which allowed Winemaker Rhys Eather to craft this award-winning wine”.
A record number of new wineries were reviewed this year with 60% more than in 2021. The Halliday Wine Companion tasting panel was also expanded and comprised of regional specialists across five states, with the team now totalling seven. For the first time, the awards were judged collaboratively by the entire tasting team, coming together in Victoria in March to review the shortlist produced from over 9,000 Australian wines. The results were announced in an online broadcast from Melbourne last night.
As the signature red and white varieties of the Hunter Valley, Shiraz and Semillon are expected to dominate the red and white wine classes at the 2021 CCL Hunter Valley Wine Show. The Hunter Valley Wine Show Committee announced this week that the event has been postponed to October, with a new date to be announced soon.
ENDS
For further information, images or comment, please contact:
Jennie Curran, Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. Ph: 0427 195 518
NOTES
Wineries named Best in the Hunter Valley Region 2022 Halliday Wine Companion 5 Star Wineries
The Halliday Wine Companion 5-star winery rating system is 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.
• Audrey Wilkinson
• Bimbadgen
• Briar Ridge Vineyard
• Brokenwood
• Carillion Wines
• De Iuliis Wines
• First Creek Wines
• Glenguin Estate
• Gundog Estate
• Hart & Hunter
• Keith Tulloch Wine
• Lake’s Folly
• Leogate Estate Wines
• McLeish Estate
• Meerea Park
• Millbrook Estate
• Mistletoe Wines
• Mount Pleasant
• Ridgeview Estate
• Silkman Wines
• Thomas Wines
• Tinkler’s Vineyard
• Tyrrell’s
• Vinden Estate
• Whispering Brook