The Hunter Valley proves it’s no museum piece

At the 2011 NSW Wine Awards last night the Hunter Valley showed again that it is one of Australia’s prominent wine regions and a happening place by taking out half of the ten trophies awarded.

The most prestigious accolade of NSW Wine of the Year went to the Hunter Valley’s Mistletoe winery with its 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, whilst three other Hunter Valley producers also took out awards.

This is the fourth time in the past five years the prestigious accolade of NSW Wine of the Year has been awarded to one of our wineries, and the third time for a Hunter Valley wine. Last year, the 2003 Tempus Two Copper Zenith Semillon took out the award; and in 2008, Audrey Wilkinson’s 2006 Museum Reserve Semillon gained the prestigious accolade.

This is great acknowledgement that our rich history and wisdom derived over generations, coupled with the tenacity and passion of our emerging young winemakers is a winning formula. In fact, most of this year’s winning wines were made by our younger winemakers, such as Nick Paterson and Liz Jackson.

Whilst it is Semillon that consistently puts the Hunter Valley on the world wine stage, this year’s wine of the year also demonstrates the diversity and sophistication of the portfolio of wine styles and varieties available in our region.

Full trophy results for the Hunter Valley were as follows:

2011 NSW Wine of the Year - Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter Valley
Best Young Chardonnay - Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter Valley
Best Young Semillon - Two Rivers 2011 Stones Throw Semillon, Hunter Valley
Best Mature Dry White - Thomas Wines 2006 Cellar Reserve Braemore Semillon, Hunter Valley
Best Young Shiraz - First Creek Wines Winemakers Reserve 2010 Shiraz, Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism would like to congratulate all the wineries Hunter Valley wineries that won trophies or were listed in the NSW Top 40 wines.