HUNTER VALLEY LEGEND WINNERS
Celebrating our past, our present and our future the Hunter Valley Legends Awards recognises and honours those who have made major contributions and excelled within the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industries.
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
This award recognises an individual, or group, for honourable contributions benefiting the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Industries generally.
- 2019 Brian McGuigan AM
- 2021 Liz Riley & Scott Bartlett
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
This award is to recognise a Hunter Valley winemaker who has achieved success on the show circuit and has made major commitments to the promotion of not only their own wines but the Hunter Valley and its wines in general.
- 2007 Andrew Spinaze - Tyrrell's Vineyards
- 2008 Andrew Thomas - Thomas Wines
- 2009 Jim Chatto - Pepper Tree Wines
- 2010 PJ Charteris - Brokenwood Wines
- 2011 Liz Jackson - First Creek Wines
- 2012 Nick Paterson - Dugliani Winemaking & Consulting
- 2013 Peter Hall - McGuigan Wines
- 2014 Andrew Thomas - Thomas Wines
- 2015 Mike De Iuliis - De Iuliis Wines
- 2016 Liz Jackson - First Creek Wines
- 2017 Mark Richardson - Tyrrell's Wines
- 2018 Stuart Hordern - Brokenwood Wines
- 2019 Adrian Sparks - Mount Pleasant Wines
- 2021 Andrew Margan - Margan Wines and Restaurant
VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR
This award is to recognise 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.
- 2007 Mt. Pleasant Lovedale Vineyard
- 2008 Ken Bray - Hunter Valley Vineyard Management
- 2009 Ian Tinkler - Tinkler's Vineyard
- 2010 Brett Keeping - Two Rivers
- 2011 Liz Riley - Vitibit Pty Ltd
- 2012 Carl Davies - Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
- 2013 Katrina Barry & Keith Barry - Brokenwood Wines
- 2014 Louise Eather, Pernod Ricard Winemakers - Wyndham Estate
- 2015 Andrew Margan - Margan Wines
- 2016 Paul Harvey - Mount Pleasant Wines
- 2017 Andrew Pengilly - Tyrrell's Wines
- 2018 Neil Stevens - Glen Oak Wines
- 2019 Brett Keeping - Two River Wines
- 2021 Steve Ferguson - Mount Pleasant Wines
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
This award recognises the outstanding contribution of an industry person over the preceding 12 months, whether they are a young person just starting out, someone just recently involved in the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Industries or whose star is ascending.
- 2007 Christina Tulloch - Tulloch Wines
- 2008 Usher Tinkler - Pooles Rock Wines
- 2009 Sarah Crowe - Brokenwood Wines
- 2010 Matt Burton - Wandin Valley Estate
- 2011 Jeff Byrne - Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
- 2012 Chris Tyrrell - Tyrrell Vineyards
- 2013 Sally Scarborough - Scarborough Wine Co.
- 2014 Belinda Stapleton - Spicers Vineyards Estate & Restaurant Botanica
- 2015 Joint Winners: Troy & Megan Rhoades-Brown - Muse Restaurant & Muse Kitchen | Gwyn Olsen - Briar Ridge
- 2016 Belinda Paterson - Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley
- 2017 Rauri Donkin - Bimbadgen Estate
- 2018 Aaron Mercer - Tamburlaine Organic Wines
- 2019 Angus Vinden - Vinden Estate Wines
- 2021 Nicole Wilson - Margan Wines and Restaurant
CELLAR DOOR OF THE YEAR
This award is to recognise a cellar door with outstanding public relations, sales technique, presentation and attitude.
- 2007 Tulloch Wines
- 2008 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant
- 2009 Scarborough Wine Co.
- 2010 Brokenwood Wines
- 2011 Pepper Tree Wines
- 2012 Hungerford Hill Wines
- 2013 Margan Family Wines
- 2014 Tulloch Wines
- 2015 Tyrrell's Wines
- 2016 De Iuliis Wines
- 2017 Thomas Wines
- 2018 Margan Family Wines
- 2019 Brokenwood Wines
- 2020 Glandore Estate
- 2021 Scarborough Wine Co
HERITAGE AWARD
As the oldest commercial wine region in Australia, it is incumbent on the Hunter Valley Wine Industry to recognise and preserve the great history that the Hunter Valley has. This Heritage Award is about just that, iconic touchstones of our 193 year old industry that remain to constantly remind us of the Hunter’s forebears.
- 2009 Edward Tyrrell's Slab Hut - Tyrrell's Vineyards
- 2010 Old Cellar - Drayton's Family Wines & Old Vats at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyards
- 2011 The Old Still House - Ben Ean Winery & Maurice O'Shea Mount Pleasant Label - Mount Pleasant Winery
- 2012 Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin Dry Red Label
- 2013 Halls Cottage circa 1876 - Roberts Restaurant circa 1876
- 2014 Marthaville Homestead & the 1973 Vintage Festival Poster
- 2017 Rothbury Cemetery
- 2018 Drayton’s Bellevue Wine Label - Drayton Wines
- 2019 Pokolbin Memorial Gates
- 2021 Hunter Valley Heritage Cairn Trail
