CHALLENGING CONDITIONS PROVE NO BARRIER TO THE SUCCESS OF HUNTER VALLEY WINES

2021 CCL Hunter Valley Wine Show Trophy Winners Announcement

5 November 2021 - For immediate release

The 2021 CCL Hunter Valley Wine Show has today announced the trophy winners from its 49th show. Delayed from the initial run in August, the judging for the 49th show concluded on Thursday 28 October at the Singleton School of Infantry Army Base.

With COVID restrictions once again challenging proceedings, the prestigious show has again triumphed in the face of adversity. Of the 645 wines and 4000 bottles that were entered, there were more gold medals awarded per class than previous years and in a nod to the quality of this year’s entries, 25 of the 26 trophies were awarded.

The highly acclaimed wine judge PJ Charteris presided over this year’s panel of 9 judges. PJ, currently Chairman of Judges for the Royal Sydney Wine Show, has more than 25 years of winemaking experience and has judged at many regional wine shows.

Despite the 2020 vintage conditions, PJ commended in particular the strength of the 2021 Semillon classes. In the red classes, the judges were spoilt for choice with 2017, 2018 and 2019 performing strongly. PJ highlighted the 2018s with a deep core of fruit that will see them mature exceptionally well, whilst the 2019s show a freshness and purity giving them instant appeal.

The Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance was awarded to Mount Pleasant for its Lovedale Semillon 2009, 2014 and 2019.The provenance classes produced three very good brackets of wines which, according to PJ, were very hard to split showing ‘why the Hunter is a unique and special wine region’’.

PJ added ‘As this is a regional show, the judging team are focused on the unique expression that the Hunter Valley is capable of producing and this year’s entries did not disappoint. It should come as no surprise that Semillon performed incredibly well. In the red classes, considering the recent run of great vintages the strength of the 17, 18 and 19 reds are worth highlighting. Whilst the 2020 harvest produced challenges for winemakers, Hunter Valley winemakers have responded with careful and considered winemaking to give wines that belied the conditions”.

First Creek Wines took out a trifecta for its 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon, winning the Petrie-Drinan Trophy Best White Wine of the Show, as well as the Tyrrell Family Trophy for Best Single Vineyard White and Len Evans Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine. The Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy for Best Red Wine of the Show was awarded to De Iuliis for its 2019 Limited Release Shiraz, which also won the Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy Best Shiraz. It was a day of hard-earned celebrations for both First Creek Wines and De Iuliis who between them took home 12 of the overall trophies.

Particular mention was also given from the judges to the chardonnay entries. PJ noted “in this exceptionally competitive space, it is really impressive to see the Hunter Valley developing its own chardonnay style”. Verdelho, Vermentino and Fiano also continued to perform well and improve year on year.

Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association CEO, Amy Cooper, welcomed the opportunity for the Hunter Valley wine industry to come together in person to celebrate this year’s trophy winners.  Amy praised “the significant contribution of the Hunter Valley Wine Show Committee, judges and volunteers who have once again delivered in difficult circumstances. Their contribution to the success of the Hunter Valley wine region is highly appreciated. We look forward to next year’s significant 50th year anniversary’’.

-ENDS-

Please contact Jennie Curran, Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association, to arrange interviews or further information.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 0427 195 518
Click here for a link to images of the Trophy winners. 

THE 2021 CCL LABEL HUNTER VALLEY WINE SHOW – TROPHY WINNERS

• Marshall-Flannery Trophy Best Current Semillon - Class 1 - Sponsored by Hally Labels
  Brokenwood 2021 Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon
• Ed Jouault Memorial Trophy Best One-Year-Old Semillon - Class 2
  Brokenwood 2020 Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon

• McGuigan Family Trophy Best Mature Two-Year-Old and Older Semillon – Class 3
  First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon

• George Wyndham Memorial Trophy Best Current and One-Year-Old Chardonnay –Classes 4 & 5 Sponsored by Winequip
  Keith Tulloch Wine 2021 Chardonnay Estate Chardonnay

• Henry John Lindeman Memorial Trophy Best Two-Year-Old and Older Chardonnay - Class 6 Sponsored by Jurds Real Estate
  Silkman Wines 2017 SILK Chardonnay

• Best “Other White Varietals and White Blends” Trophy – Classes 8-11
  Tempus Two 2021 Copper Vermentino

• J.Y.(Jay) Tulloch Trophy Best Verdelho – Class 7
  Two Rivers 2021 Hidden Hive Verdelho

• Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy Best Chardonnay - Sponsored by Multi-Color Global Label Solutions
  Silkman Wines 2017 SILK Chardonnay

• Doug Galbraith Memorial Trophy Best Off-Dry or Sweet White Wine – Classes 13 & 14
  RidgeView 2018 “Tipple’s Gold” Late Harvest Viognier

• Trevor Drayton Memorial Trophy Best Fortified Wine or Vermouth – Class 29
  Mount Pleasant Wines NV 25 Year Old Fortified Verdelho

• John Lewis Newcastle Herald Trophy Best Museum Red Wine - Class 26
  De Iuliis Wines 2007 Limited Release Shiraz

• Graham Gregory Memorial Trophy Best Museum White Wine - Class 25
  Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2006 Vat 1 Semillon

• Tyrrell Family Trophy Best Single Vineyard White
  First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon
• Drayton Family Trophy Best Single Vineyard Red Sponsored by Seguin Moreau
  De Iuliis 2019 LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga Nacional

• Best Rosé Trophy – Class 15
  First Creek Wines 2021 FCR Merlot

• The Royal Australian Infantry Corps Officers Mess Silver Bullet
  Margan Family Wines 2019 White Label Ceres Hill Barbera
• Alexander Munro Memorial Trophy Best Current Vintage and One-Year-Old Shiraz – Classes 16 & 19 Sponsored by Rover Coaches
  Mercer Wines 2021 Shiraz Nouveau
• Elliott Family Trophy Best Two-Year-Old Shiraz - Class 17
  De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz

• James Busby Memorial Trophy Best Three-Year-Old and Older Shiraz - Class 18 Sponsored by Jenkins Legal Services
  Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd 2018 Old Hillside Shiraz
• Best “Other Red Varietal and Red Blends” Trophy – Classes 19-24
  De Iuliis Wines 2019 LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga Nacional
• Maurice O’Shea Memorial Trophy Best Semillon
  First Creek Wines 2019 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon

• Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy Best Shiraz Sponsored by Hahn Corporation
  De Iuliis 2019 Limited Release Shiraz
• Len Evans Trophy Best Single Vineyard Wine
  First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon

• Petrie-Drinan Trophy Best White Wine of the Show Sponsored by CCL
  First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon
• Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy Best Red Wine of the Show Sponsored by CCL - Six wines from renowned French producers supplied by Mercurey
  De Iuliis 2019 Limited Release Shiraz
• Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance - Classes 27 & 28
  Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 2009, 2014, 2019