By James Atkinson
The silverware was shared across 12 companies at Friday's Hunter Valley Wine Show (HVWS), with two of the big gongs going to some of the region's smaller players.
Pepper Tree Wines (owner John Davis and winemaker Scott Comyns pictured left) picked up Best Dry Red Wine of the Show for its Limited Release Shiraz 2011, while Best Dry White Wine of the Show went to Agnew Wines (owner Brian Agnew pictured below right) for the Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006.
Tyrrell's Vineyards was named Most Successful Exhibitor of Young Wines, while the second wine to be named "Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance" (an award introduced last year) was awarded to Tulloch Wines for Hector of Elgin Shiraz for the 1994, 2006 and 2011 vintages.
Tulloch Wines patriarch Jay Tulloch was also honoured for a lifetime championing Verdelho, with the trophy for that grape named in his honour.
More than 390 local winemakers and crew were witness to the presentation of 23 Trophies for what's been named one of the Hunter Valley's best wine shows in years, on the back of a standout Semillon vintage, 2013.
"This year 49 Gold, 80 Silver and 221 Bronze medals, and 23 Trophies were awarded and there was an excellent sharing of the silverware across 12 companies in a show that is traditionally dominated by a handful of players," said Mike De Iuliis, president of Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.
Chair of judges, Jim Chatto said it was a "real pleasure to judge wines from outstanding 2011 and 2013 vintages – perhaps some of the greatest Semillons coming out of the Hunter in recent history".
Hunter should embrace emerging varieties
Speaking at the lunch, Chatto said the strong performance of alternative varieties was another exciting trend to emerge from the show.
"I believe there's a real synergy for us to explore further perhaps the varieties from the Mediterranean climates, from climates that are more akin to our own climate rather than ours to France," he said.
"It would be fantastic one day to think that one day a Sagrantino or a Montepulciano or a Tempranillo might knock off the Shiraz for the Doug Seabrook Trophy," Chatto said.
"Or even a Vermentino or a Fiano or something else ending in 'o' could challenge Semillon for the prestigious Petrie-Drinan [trophy]."
A special VIP trade and media tasting hosted by 2013 Hunter Valley Wine Show judges and winemakers featuring the award-winning wines will be held in Melbourne on 10 September and in Sydney on 11 September.
Full list of trophy winners:
Marshall Flannery Trophy
Current Vintage – Semillon
Thomas Wines Braemore Cellar Reserve Semillon 2013
Current Vintage – Chardonnay
Sponsored by National Liquor News
No Trophy Awarded
Jay Tulloch Trophy
Current Vintage – Verdelho
Two Rivers Wine Hidden Hive Verdelho 2013
Current Vintage – Dry White Wine – Other White Varietals & Blends
Mt Eyre Three Pond Fiano 2013
Henry John Lindeman Memorial Trophy
Current Vintage Dry White Wine
Thomas Wines Braemore Cellar Reserve Semillon 2013
Alexander Munro Memorial Trophy
One-Year-Old Dry Red Wine
No Trophy Awarded
Bill Ryan Memorial Trophy
Most Successful Exhibitor of Young Wines – Current Vintage Dry White Wines & One-Year-Old Dry Red Wines
Tyrrell's Vineyards
Ed Joualet Memorial Trophy
One-Year-Old Dry White Wine
Tyrrell's Vineyards Old Vines Chardonnay 2012
Elliott Family Trophy
Two-Year-Old Dry Red Wine
Pepper Tree Wines Limited Release Shiraz 2011
Dry Red Wine – Alternative Red Varietals & Blends – Any Vintage
Margan Family Wines Limited Release Barbera 2011
James Busby Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Dry Red Wine
Pepper Tree Wines Limited Release Shiraz 2011
McGuigan Family Trophy
Premium Vintage Premium Dry White Wine
Agnew Wines Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006
Doug Galbraith Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Sweet White Wine
Margan Family Wines Botrytis Semillon 2011
Trevor Drayton Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Fortified Wine
Drayton's Family Wines
Liqueur Verdelho Heritage Vines
John Lewis Newcastle Herald Trophy
Museum Vintage Dry Red Wine
Tinklers Vineyard 2005 U & I Shiraz
Graham Gregory Memorial Trophy
Museum Vintage Dry White Wine
Tempus Two Wines Copper Zenith Semillon 2003
Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy
Dry Red Wine – Currently Available
Pepper Tree Wines Limited Release Shiraz 2011
Maurice O'Shea Memorial Trophy
Dry White Wine – Currently Available
Agnew Wines Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006
Premium Vintage Sparkling Wine
No Trophy Awarded
Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy
Best Chardonnay – Any Vintage
Tyrrell's Vineyards Old Vines Chardonnay 2012
Draytons Family Trophy
Best Named Vineyard – Dry Red
Sponsored by Draytons Wines & Robyn Drayton Wines
Leogate Estate Wines Western Slopes Shiraz 2011
Tyrrell's Family Trophy
Best Named Vineyard – Dry White
Tyrrell's Vineyards HVD Semillon 2007
Len Evans Trophy
Best Named Vineyard Wine
Leogate Estate Wines Western Slopes Shiraz 2011
Petrie-Drinan Trophy
Best Dry White Wine of the Show
Sponsored by Clear Image
Agnew Wines Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006
Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy
Best Dry Red Wine of the Show
Sponsored by Clear Image
Puncheon Supplied by Mercurey Australia
Pepper Tree Wines Limited Release Shiraz 2011
Iain Riggs Wines of Provenance
Tulloch Limited Release Hector of Glen Elgin Shiraz
1994, 2006, 2011