HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Jay Tulloch OAM- J.Y.[Jay] Tulloch is a third generation Hunter Valley vigneron commencing work in the family business in 1962 at the age of 18 years. The business at that time included dairying and grazing interests, as well as winemaking.

The family sold the Company in 1969 and Jay stayed on to become the General Manager in 1973.  He continued in this role through numerous corporate takeovers to become General Manager of Southcorp Hunter Valley operations  which included Tullochs, Lindemans and Hungerford Hill encompassing wineries, vineyards and cellar door sales operations.

In 1997 Jay left Southcorp and established the JYT Wine Company with his wife Julia.  In 1991 the opportunity arose to purchase the old family company J.Y.Tulloch & Sons Pty Ltd with some partners and the business has been revived and expanded in to a thriving and successful concern.

During Jays 50 plus years career in the wine industry he has served on the NSW Wine and Brandy Association, many years on the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association committee, including three years as President, Hunter Valley Wine Show committee and numerous other industry and community organisations.

Jay has played a large part in fostering the Verdelho varieties popularity in the market place with Tulloch Verdelho becoming a market leader.

Jay Tulloch was inducted as a Legend in 2009.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Alain Le Prince's story is of a successful migrant who arrived in Australia in 1971 with his wife Jeni with a dream of growing grapes and making fine wine! In the early 1970’s Alain paved his way working in the vineyard at Rothbury Estate, as Vineyard Manager for Tyrrell’s Wines and planting and managing his own Chardonnay vineyard in Pokolbin.

From 1980 to 2000, Alain became a partner at “Terrace Vale Wines” where his role in the wine industry had expanded from vineyard manager to winemaker and sales manager. Alain’s wines have won numerous accolades and he has remained involved in the wine industry for over 40 years. 

Alain Le Prince was inducted as as a Legend in 2016.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Fay McGuigan has worked tirelessly promoting Hunter Valley wines to the export market, and was considered one of the leaders in the export of Australian wine to the world.

Fay earned her reputation as an export manager during the pioneering days of export in the late 1970s, when she and her husband, Brian, ventured to start their own company, Wyndham Estate. She is hailed as an ambassador of Australian and Hunter Valley wine overseas, and has won many awards and accolades such as the Australia Export Award, Centenary of Federation Medal, and the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legends Award, including recognition as Australian Exporter of the Year.

Fay was one of the early pioneers of export and has been hailed an Ambassador of Australian wine in overseas markets, as well as instrumental in the growth of Australian wine exports generally.  Her involvement in the export industry has been recognised on a number of occasions, and in 1998 she was awarded the New South Wales Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award for the AusIndustry section. 

Fay is renowned for her hospitality and generosity, opening her home to look after international guests when they visit the Hunter.

Fay firmly believes that some of the great strengths of Australian wines are modern winemaking and viticulture techniques used throughout the Australian Wine Industry; our ability to produce wines of intense flavour, and in particular having the right packaging, quality, price and flavour to present to our overseas customers.  The McGuigan family have been in the Wine Industry for four generations (60 years).

Fay McGuigan was inducted as a Legend in 2009.

HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS

Brian McGuigan established his position as one of Australia’s foremost winemakers and marketers when he founded the Wyndham Estate Wine Company at Dalwood in the Hunter Valley in the 1970’s. As Managing Director of the Wyndham Estate Group he built one of the most successful wine companies in Australia. 

Following the sale of Wyndham in 1991 Brian established a new company; Brian McGuigan Wines, in 1992 through a publicly listed company. In the fifteen years that he was a Managing Director of the Company growth has been extraordinary, with total sales approaching 10 million cases. Brian’s faith in Australia to produce premium quality wines is evidenced by the fact that the McGuigan Company now controls and manages some 18,500 acres of vines throughout Australia putting it amongst the top grape growers in Australia and the world. Exports continue to be a major focus of the McGuigan Wines operation. At present in excess of 67% of total production is allocated to satisfy the demands of the International market. The success of McGuigan Wines in Europe, USA and New Zealand has been outstanding and with the quality of McGuigan Wines supported by their policy of controlling their own vineyards the future of export sales seems assured.

Brian McGuigan was inducted as a Legend in 2008.