PROUD BUNCH: From left, Tyrrell’s Wines’ Mark Richardson, Bruce Tyrrell, Chris Tyrrell, Andrew Spinaze and Iain Riggs among the vines yesterday. Picture: Peter Stoop
The Hunter’s top wine producers were honoured at a special lunch in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
Small family-owned producers were big winners at the 2012 Hunter Valley Wine Show, with Meerea Park taking out the Petri-Drinan Trophy for best dry white and De Iuliis the Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy for best dry red.
Tyrrell’s won five trophies, including the inaugural Wines of Provenance, honouring prominent winemaker Iain Riggs.
Chair of judges Jim Chatto led a respected line-up of judges that faced 780 Hunter Valley wines from 85 producers.
‘‘Tyrrell’s, Meerea Park and De Iuliis dominated the awards and these wines articulate precisely what is great about our region,’’ Mr Chatto said. ‘‘Congratulations to all winners.’’
International judge Lisa Perrotti-Brown said she ranked the show, in its 38th year, as one of the ‘‘best organised and judged’’ in the country.
‘‘The unique styles of shirazes, semillons and chardonnays have especially been a pleasure to judge, and believe me I don’t say that at every show,’’ she said.
Trophies were officially presented at Lindeman’s Winery yesterday in front of about 400 people.
THE WINNERS
Marshall Flannery Trophy
Current Vintage – Semillon
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Chalkboard Semillon 2012
Current Vintage – Chardonnay
Sponsored by National Liquor News
No Trophy Awarded
Jay Tulloch Trophy
Current Vintage - Verdelho
No Trophy Awarded
Current Vintage – Dry White Wine
– Other White Varietals & Blends
No Trophy Awarded
Henry John Lindeman Memorial Trophy
Current Vintage Dry White Wine
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Chalkboard Semillon 2012
Alexander Munro Memorial Trophy
One-Year-Old Dry Red Wine
De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011
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
Tempus Two Wines Pewter Semillon 2011
Elliott Family Trophy Two-Year-Old Dry Red Wine
Thomas Wines Sweetwater Shiraz 2010
James Busby Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Dry Red Wine
Sponsored by Plasdene Glass-Pak
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Vat 8 Shiraz 2009
George Wyndham Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Dry White Wine
Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
Museum Reserve Semillon 2006
Doug Galbraith Memorial Trophy
Premium Vintage Sweet White Wine
No Trophy Awarded
Premium Vintage Sparkling Wine
No Trophy Awarded
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
McGuigan Wines Personal Reserve Shiraz 2000
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
De Iuliis Wines Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011
Maurice O’Shea Memorial Trophy
Dry White Wine – Currently Available
Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006
Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy
Best Chardonnay - Any Vintage
First Creek Wines Winemakers
Reserve Chardonnay 2011
Draytons Family Trophy
Best Named Vineyard – Dry Red
De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011 Tyrrell’s Family Trophy
Best Named Vineyard – Dry White
Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006
Len Evans Trophy
Best Named Vineyard Wine
Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006
Petrie-Drinan Trophy
Best Dry White Wine of the Show
Sponsored by Clear Image
Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006
Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy
Best Dry Red Wine of the Show
Sponsored by Clear Image
Puncheon Supplied by Mercurey
De Iuliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011
Iain Riggs Wines of Provenance
White – Tyrrell’s Vineyards
Vat 1 Semillon - 1999, 2006, 2009
Red – Tyrrell’s Vineyards
Vat 9 Shiraz - 1996, 2006, 2009
