MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 JUNE 2023
FIRST CREEK SHORTLISTED BY HALLIDAY FOR 2024 WINERY OF THE YEAR
When First Creek Wines founders Greg and Jenny Silkman purchased a parcel of land bordered by First Creek in the Hunter Valley in 1998, they had a vision to become one of the region’s leading family-owned wine brands. They named it First Creek after the important watercourse that fed so many significant vineyard sites in the historic wine region, and that today they are reliant on for some of the region’s best fruit.
Being one of only ten wineries in Australia Shortlisted for Winery of the Year in the Halliday Wine Companion 2024 today is almost the most significant testament a winery can get to having attained that vision.
Their vision was also to improve the quality and perception of Hunter Valley wines with a sensitive bespoke approach supported by upholding traditional winemaking values, being respectful to the traditional land upon which their vines are grown and using state of the art technology. The following years saw remarkable innovation and success and the first wines were released in 2005 under the First Creek label which were made by Greg Silkman and winemaker son Shaun Silkman.
First Creek has been on an incredible journey since, with Liz Silkman, a recent Dux of the world-famous Len Evans Tutorial joining the family business as Chief Winemaker in 2008. Significant expansion in production, led by Shaun as Chief Operating Officer, and the addition of a third bottling line saw both First Creek Winemaking Services business explode, and the rapid rise of the First Creek Wine brand in the domestic market.
Fast forward through several years of making great wine which saw Liz being named Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year three times in 10 years, the first person in the Hunter Valley to do so. Along with many other firsts, trophies, and accolades all of which they attribute to having access to some of the best vineyards in one of the best wine growing regions of the world. With some incredible accolades to the brand name not the least being the 2017 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay winning the 2018 Halliday Chardonnay Challenge and the 2018 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay being named Best Chardonnay in NSW in 2019 and judged by James Halliday in the Top 5 Australian Chardonnays in the 2019 Chardonnay Challenge.
But nothing in First Creek’s successful history will trump being named “Winery of the Year” by Halliday, should this deserved Shortlisted winery top the soon to be released Wine Companion 2024. The winner will be announced in Melbourne at the launch of the 2024 guide on 2nd August 2023.
“Being Shortlisted for Winery of the Year by Halliday is confirmation to us that we are achieving what we set out to do twenty years ago when we made our first wine under the First Creek label, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Being shortlisted amongst such great company is in itself an achievement and its great news for the Hunter Valley too, proving that we as a brand and the Hunter Valley as a region are capable of great things.” comments Greg Silkman Managing Director First Creek Wines.
Winery of the Year is judged by Halliday’s panel of expert judges, this the first year with Campbell Mattinson as chief editor and new recruits Mike Bennie and Shanteh Wale joining James Halliday, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port and Philip Rich.
For further information, images or to arrange an interview please contact Kylie White – White Ink This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0401 408 080.