More than 330 guests from across the wine and tourism industries gathered to recognise the people and businesses shaping the future of the Hunter Valley region while honouring those whose contributions have left a lasting legacy. The 19th Hunter Valley Legends Awards highlighted the Hunter Valley industry’s continued focus on sustainability, premium visitor experiences and preserving the region’s winemaking legacy for future generations.
This year, John Hordern and Brett Keeping were inducted as the 2026Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legends, and Greg West was inducted as the 2026 Hunter Valley Tourism Industry Living Legend.
“These awards celebrate the people and brands who continue to elevate the Hunter Valley through leadership, innovation and an unwavering commitment to our region,” said Chris Tyrrell, President of the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association.
John Hordern was inducted as a 2026 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend, recognised for his lifelong contribution to the Upper Hunter wine industry as a grape grower, winemaker and business leader.
Raised in the Upper Hunter, John’s connection to wine began when his father planted Semillon and Shiraz on the family property near Denman in 1968. Following studies at Roseworthy Agricultural College, John established Horseshoe Vineyard as a premium Hunter Valley wine label and built extensive experience through contract winemaking and vineyard operations. In 2000, he helped establish Hunter Wine Services in Muswellbrook. John has also held leadership roles including President of the Upper Hunter Winemakers Association and contributed to regional advisory committees supporting the wine industry.
Brett Keeping was inducted as a 2026 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of more than 30 years dedicated to vineyard development, grape growing and industry advocacy in the Upper Hunter.
After planning and developing the original Two Rivers vineyard in 1988, Brett played a significant role in the Hunter Valley’s vineyard expansion during the 1990s, overseeing the establishment of more than 160 hectares of vineyards. Over the years, vineyards under his care have supplied numerous Hunter Valley wine companies, while his leadership has helped shape the Upper Hunter wine community through multiple terms as President and Vice President of the Upper Hunter Winemakers Association. Brett has also been a passionate advocate for the industry through his work on climate change studies, critical industry cluster recognition and representation at planning hearings relating to mining impacts on vineyard land.
Greg West was inducted as the 2026 Hunter Valley Tourism Industry Living Legend in recognition of more than three decades of contribution to the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industries.
Greg has been instrumental in promoting the Hunter Valley both locally and nationally through a career spanning McWilliams Mount Pleasant, Agnew Wines and Boydell’s, alongside numerous industry leadership roles. A descendant of pioneering Hunter winemaker George Wyndham, Greg has been deeply involved in tourism and cellar door development, including establishing the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association Cellar Door Sub Committee and coordinating training initiatives that continue today. Greg also helped create and deliver major destination events including Hunter Semillon & Seafood and Hunter Uncorked activations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while representing the Hunter Valley internationally at travel trade events in Singapore. Since 2019, Greg has also served as Chair of the Dalwood House Restoration Association, helping preserve an important part of the Hunter Valley’s history.
Acknowledging their significant contributions, Iain Riggs AM, Chair of the Living Legends, commented:
“John Hordern represents generations of commitment to the Upper Hunter wine industry. Through vineyard development, winemaking and mentoring others in the region, he has played a pivotal role is strengthening the reputation of the Upper Hunter.”
“Brett Keeping’s contribution to the Upper Hunter wine industry has spanned vineyard development, regional leadership and strong advocacy for protecting the future of viticulture in the Hunter Valley. His influence on the region has been substantial and enduring.”
“Greg West has been one of the great ambassadors for Hunter Valley wine tourism. His contribution to cellar door development, destination marketing and industry collaboration has helped shape the visitor experience the Hunter Valley is known for today.”
The First Creek Winemaking Services 2026 Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year was awarded to Stuart Hordern of Brokenwood Wines. Over the past 12 months, Brokenwood has received national and international acclaim including Halliday Wine Companion 2026 Winery of the Year, Best Semillon Trophy across 4 major wine shows in 2025, two Platinum awards at the Decanter World Wine Awards, 26 gold medals across national, state and local wine shows and 99 points for the 2023 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz. Stuart has been recognised for his focus on producing wines that have greater fruit purity and elegance while continuing to elevate flagship wines including Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz which, during his tenure has risen from the Outstanding Classification to Exceptional and is now the only red wine from New South Wales and the Hunter Valley to be included in the Langton’s Classification Exceptional tier. Announced on the night, finalists in this category were Bryan Currie, Brendan Kaczorowski, Aaron Mercer, Mark Richardson and Brett Woodward.
The Jurds 2026 Hunter Valley Viticulturist of the Year was presented to Jerome Scarborough and Liz Riley of Scarborough Wine Co. Together, Jerome and Liz bring decades of technical expertise, sustainable vineyard management and industry leadership to the Hunter Valley. Their collaborative approach focuses on regenerative vineyard practices, biodiversity, integrated pest management and long-term vineyard sustainability. Together, they continue to shape the future of vineyard management in the region including long-term vineyard health and sustainability. Both Liz and Jerome are members of the HVWTA Wine Industry Forum and Hunter Valley Wine Country Landcare. Additionally, they both provide informal mentoring to younger viticulturalists, often being a “phone a friend” for others. Both have been widely recognised for their industry contribution, with Liz previously receiving the Graham Gregory Award for service to the NSW Wine Industry and recognition as a Legend of the Vine by Wine Communicators of Australia. Announced on the night, the finalists in this category were Will Capper, Brent Hutton, Edward ‘Ted’ Nicolai and Jeremy O’Brien.
Ollie Margan of Margan Family Wines was awarded the RIEDEL 2026 Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year. With more than 20 harvests already completed, Ollie has built an impressive career spanning winemaking, viticulture, hospitality and brand development, with experience across Bordeaux, Central Otago and Adelaide before returning to the Hunter Valley in 2021. Over the last 12 months, Ollie has played a key role in progressing regenerative organic viticulture practices at Margan’s Ceres Hill vineyard, while championing progressive farming, softer winemaking styles and premium onsite experiences designed to connect visitors more deeply with the Hunter Valley. He also led the development of the Single Block range as the top tier within the Margan portfolio, progressed with conversion of the Ceres Hill property over to regenerative organic viticultural management and elevated the Margan brand and regional storytelling through a new website development. Beyond the winery, Ollie has represented NSW Wine internationally helping showcase the next generation of Hunter Valley wine leadership. Announced on the night, the finalists in this category were Samuel Boyd, Alexandra McKeown, Samuel Rumpit, Daniel Thomas, Hayden Tinkler, Allanna Wells.
The PKF 2026 Hunter Valley Tourism Operator of the Year was awarded to Wine Fairy Events. Known for its personalised wine experiences, curated tastings and boutique winery partnerships, Wine Fairy Events has built a strong reputation for connecting visitors with the Hunter Valley’s producers and regional stories. Founder Katharina Clark has expanded the business through private in-house tastings, educational wine events and collaborations with local wineries, chefs and accommodation providers, helping create immersive visitor experiences that encourage longer stays and deeper engagement with the region. Announced on the night, the finalists in this category were Esca Bimbadgen and Mezze Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Valley Wine Tourism Association 2026 Hunter Valley Accommodation Operator of the Year was awarded to Rydges Resort Hunter Valley for a second year in a row. Welcoming more than 300,000 guests annually, Rydges continues to play a major role in regional tourism. Recent innovations include the launch of GATHER with a menu featuring exclusively local produce and a wine list featuring 100% Hunter Valley producers, the installation of Australia’s first AngelEye AI pool detection system providing an additional layer of pool safety and continuing to host and attract large-scale events. Through Luxury Escapes campaigns and winery collaborations, Rydges has also helped deliver more than 12,000 guests directly into partner cellar doors, strengthening regional tourism flow-on benefits. Their conference facilities continue to attract national business events, helping drive important mid-week visitation to the region. Alongside this, Rydges has strengthened its commitment to environmentally and socially responsible tourism through renewable energy investments, community partnerships and accessible tourism initiatives. Announced on the night, the finalists in this category were Chateau Elan at the Vintage and The Lane Retreat.
Thomas Wines was named Wine Selectors 2026 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year. Since its founding in 1997, Thomas Wines has built a reputation as one of the Hunter Valley’s leading boutique wine producers, championing the region’s signature varietals Semillon and Shiraz through premium wine experiences and genuine regional storytelling. In 2026, founder and head winemaker Andrew Thomas completed his 40th Hunter Valley vintage, marking a lifetime dedicated to understanding and expressing the region’s vineyards and seasons. Over the past 12 months, the business has focused on strengthening long-term customer loyalty and elevating the cellar door experience through thoughtful innovation, personalised service and meaningful customer engagement This has included the development of five clearly differentiated tasting experiences and a structured annual events program featuring Shiraz Release Day, Semillon in the Sun and Cinema Under the Stars, often delivered in partnership with local operators to encourage broader regional visitation. Announced on the night, the finalists in this category were Brokenwood, McCaffrey’s Estate, Scarborough Wine Co., Saddler’s Creek and Winmark Wines.
The Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association extends congratulations to the 2026 Hunter Valley Legends Awards recipients.
RIEDEL Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year: Ollie Margan, Margan Family Wines
PKF Hunter Valley Tourism Operator of the Year: Wine Fairy Events
Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association Hunter Valley Accommodation Operator of the Year: Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Jurds Hunter Valley Viticulturist of the Year: Jerome Scarborough & Liz Riley, Scarborough Wine Co.
Wine Selectors Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year: Thomas Wines
First Creek Winemaking Services Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year: Stuart Hordern, Brokenwood Wines
Hunter Valley Tourism Industry Living Legend: Greg West
Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend: Brett Keeping
Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend: John Hordern
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We'd like to thank you the following Trophy Sponsors, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association Corporate Partners and Hunter Valley Legends Awards Event Partners