2022 WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM

Nominations are now invited for the 2022 Winemaker of the Year Award.

Nominations are invited from any member of the HVWTA. Once the selection panel has confirmed that the criteria for the Winemaker of the Year Award has been met the finalists will proceed to a secret ballot. Each criterion has been weighted with a total score out of 100.

Winemaker of the Year Selection Panel may be comprised of:

• Chair of the Hunter Valley Legends Awards Working Group – (or Chair of the Wine Marketing Forum).
• Chair of the Marketing & Events Stream (or other HVWTA committee member).
• 2021 Winemaker of the Year.
• Media Representative. 
• A Hunter Valley representative with international recognition.
• Two Living Legends (appropriate to this field).

NB :The selection panel is to be convened by the HVWTA and there is to be no more than one representative per company per selection panel, and no panel member can sit for more than 2 consecutive years.

Criteria

This award recognises an outstanding Hunter Valley winemaker, who is a leader in their 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. Please outline your personal highlights in terms of your direct involvement in the production of Hunter Valley wines, including vineyards, in 2019 & 2020.
• Wine show judging or other acknowledgement or recognition of skill as an assessor of wine quality.
• Show awards, or other recognition, or 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 which 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 can only be nominated for one awards category.

Nominations must be received by Friday, 25th February  2022.