Winemaker of the Year Selection Panel
This award recognises an outstanding Hunter Valley winemaker, who is a leader in the profession. The Winemaker of the Year recognises in particular, the previous calendar year's achievements, with consideration to all previous achievements.
- Level of experience and/or qualification in winemaking.
- Winemaking technique, experimentation, or individual style, resulting in any uniqueness in wine styles produced. You will need to outline your personal highlights in terms of your direct involvement in the production of Hunter Valley wines over the previous calendar year.
- Wine show judging or other acknowledgment or recognition of skill as an assort of wine quality.
- Show awards, or other recognition, review, or ranking by respected media or Associations.
- Ambassadorial marketing work for the winery, and/or similar on behalf of the Hunter Valley Wine Industry generally.
- The HVWTA can elect to nominate any winemaker who was directly responsible for making a Hunter Valley wine that was awarded a gold medal in a major capital wine show, Hunter Valley Wine Show, or NSW Wine Awards in the preceding 12 months, and if that person still remains employed by the company who produced that wine.
Nominees will be required to complete a questionnaire addressing the criteria which will then proceed to a selection panel and secret ballot.
Viticulturist of the Year Selection Criteria
An Award to an outstanding Viticulturist involved in the management of Hunter Valley vineyards. The Award recognises that any outstanding wine starts with good vineyard management resulting in quality grapes. The Viticulturist of the Year recognises, in particular, the previous calendar year's achievements with consideration to all previous achievements.
- An outstanding contribution over the preceding twelve months, showing results and achievements.
- Proven vineyard management skills that have resulted in the consistently high performance of the vineyard/s in their care i.e.. fruit quality, and fruit supply, which may have been recognised by awards or respected media coverage.
- Any research and development, trialing, or adoption of best practices, and new and innovative vineyard management techniques to enhance vineyard production goals and sustainability.
- Any vineyard/s that have achieved single vineyard status in the care of the nominee.
- The HVWTA can elect to nominate any vineyard manager/contractor who was directly responsible for a vineyard, from which a Hunter Valley wine was awarded a gold medal in a major capital wine show, Hunter Valley Wine Show, or NSW Wine Awards in the preceding 12 months, and if that person still remains employed by the company who produced that wine.
- Please note, that we encourage the nomination of Vineyard Managers (which can include employees of a contractor).
Nominees will be required to complete a questionnaire addressing the criteria which will then proceed to a selection panel and secret ballot.
Cellar Door of the Year Selection Criteria
The public perception and profile of our wine industry is influenced by experiences at our cellar doors. The award recognises excellence at a Hunter Valley cellar door. To be eligible for entry the cellar door must be open for visitation without an appointment and demonstrate:
- The discernible promotion of Hunter Valley wines.
- Active involvement in wine/tourism industry activities and events.
- Cellar door staff must exhibit exemplary wine knowledge of the Hunter Valley and in general local knowledge, and the ability to sell the Hunter Valley brand.
Nominees will be judged by an external mystery shopper.
The Mystery Shopper will award points across three main areas. These are:
- The Call - a phone call to your business to enquire about your product/offering and the Region.
- The Visit - the mystery shopper will visit your business to experience what you offer.
- The Online Presence - the mystery shopper will evaluate the effectiveness, consistency, and timeliness of your online presence.
More specifically;
- Customer Service, including welcome and over-friendliness, tasting experience, wine knowledge of staff, local knowledge, and positive referral to other cellar doors.
- External presentation of signate, entry, parking, landscaping, etc.
- Internal facilities including the layout of cellar door, amenities, tasting area, etc.
- Presentation of offerings, e.g. digital marketing strategy, upselling to include wine club and other direct marketing, dinners, and wine education classes.
Tourism Operator of the Year criteria
The public perception and profile of the Hunter Valley is influenced by the experiences our visitors get to enjoy. This award recognises excellence provided by a Hunter Valley Tourism Operator. To be eligible for entry the Tourism Operator must be open for visitation with or without an appointment or be a bookable experience (inc. online) and demonstrate:
- The discernible promotion of the Hunter Valley region.
- Active involvement in tourism industry activities and events.
- Tourism Operator staff must exhibit exemplary knowledge of the Hunter Valley, and the ability to sell the Hunter Valley brand.
Nominees will be judged by both external mystery shopper and by completing a short-written submission.
The Mystery Shopper will award points across two main areas. These are:
- The Call - a phone call to your business to enquire about your product/ offering and the Region (welcome and overall friendliness, experience, local knowledge, and positive referral to other Hunter Valley businesses).
- The Online Presence - the mystery shopper will evaluate the effectiveness, consistency, and timeliness of your online presence.
The written submission will award points across:
- Customer Experience, Responsible Tourism, Product Development, and Marketing/Promotion.
More specifically;
- Provision of quality Customer Service as part of the Visitor Experience (major point weighting).
- Marketing/Promotion (Marketing Strategy, Regional promotion)
Accommodation Operator of the Year criteria
The public perception and profile of the Hunter Valley is influenced by the experiences our visitors get to enjoy. This award recognises excellence provided by a Hunter Valley Tourism Accommodation Operator. To be eligible for entry the Tourism Accommodation Operator must be open for visitation with or without an appointment or be a bookable experience (inc. online) and demonstrate:
- The discernible promotion of the Hunter Valley region.
- Active involvement in tourism industry activities and events.
- Tourism Accommodation Operator staff must exhibit exemplary knowledge of the Hunter Valley, and the ability to sell the Hunter Valley brand.
Nominees will be judged by both external mystery shopper and by completing a short-written submission.
The Mystery Shopper will award points across two main areas. These are:
- The Call - a phone call to your business to enquire about your product/ offering and the Region (welcome and overall friendliness, experience, local knowledge, and positive referral to other Hunter Valley businesses).
- The Online Presence - the mystery shopper will evaluate the effectiveness, consistency, and timeliness of your online presence.
The written submission will award points across:
- Customer Experience, Responsible Tourism, Product Development, and Marketing/Promotion.
More specifically;
- Provision of quality Customer Service as part of the Visitor Experience (major point weighting).
- Marketing/Promotion (Marketing Strategy, Regional promotion)
Young Achiever of the Year criteria
This award recognises an individual, less than 35 years of age, working in a Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism business and their contribution to the development of a vibrant and professional tourism industry.
This award recognises an aspiring star of the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Industries. This person may be involved in hospitality, winemaking, vineyard management, marketing, or sales. This award is for achievements over the period February 2023 to January 2024.
- An outstanding contribution over the preceding twelve months, showing results and achievements.
- Above average representation or achievement of results for the nominee’s employer.
- Representation of the Hunter Valley Wine Industry generally, resulting in raising the profile of the Hunter Valley through cellar door sales, and/or management of your wine club, management of your accommodation or restaurant, and marketing/PR expertise.
- The nominee could be a young person or someone whose Hunter Valley star is in the ascendancy.
- In the case of less than 4 nominations being received for this category in any one year, the HVWTA can elect to nominate for this award any individual or group who can demonstrate fulfills all the above criteria.
Nominees can only be nominated for one awards category. This award will not be awarded to the same person twice.
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
This award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual to the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism industries generally. It is to acknowledge those who go over and above their own commercial focus to contribute to the broader industry. These contributions will be in one or more of the following areas which advances the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Industries. Nominees must be able to provide evidence of the following criteria.
- Associated with being involved in a successful business in the Hunter Valley for the benefit of their business, and the betterment of the Hunter Valley Wine Region.
- Demonstrate outstanding performance in the past twelve (12) months that has impacted on the members of the wider community.
- Achieved domestic and international recognition or other recognition, review, or ranking by respected media or Associations.
- Mentoring and fostering the future talent of our region.
- Demonstrate entrepreneurship and leadership evidenced by diversification, creativity, and imagination.
- The nominee will also have demonstrated personal involvement and commitment to specific community initiatives.
- The conduct of the company must be above reproach with regard to ethics, quality, service, and the development of its human resources. It must project a positive community image.
- The nominee must provide three references to support this nomination addressing each of the following
- Leadership
- Positive Contribution and Influence
- Mentoring
- The HVWTA can elect to nominate for this award any individual they can demonstrate fulfills all of the above criteria.
Individual Nominees can only be nominated for one awards category.