Epic night for the Hunter Valley at the Citibank NSW Wine Awards

 Media Release

It has been a NSW Wine Awards of “Epic” proportions with the Hunter Valley taking out 22 of the Top 40 Wines, and last night a Hunter Valley winery was also awarded NSW Wine of the Year for the fifth successive year.

The Hungerford Hill Epic Shiraz 2007 (RRP $55) was named 2012 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year at the States’ most coveted wine show, the Citibank NSW Wine Awards, at the NSW wine industry’s night of nights held at Guillaume at Bennelong.

“This win confirms the fact that the Hunter Valley is making great wines across the board, from producers new and old, large and small,” said Andrew Margan, President, Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association.

For the last five years a Hunter Valley winery has taken out the top award. The NSW Wine of the Year predecessors include Mistletoe Wines in 2011, Tempus Two in 2010, Brokenwood  in 2009 and Audrey Wilkinson in 2008.

James Kirby, owner of Hungerford Hill was presented with this his second prestigious NSW Wine of the Year Trophy (the previous win was in 2006 when the Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2005 took out the trophy) before the who’s who of the wine industry, including Chair of Judges, Huon Hooke, and flanked by the other Trophy winners and Top 40 winemakers of the 2012 NSW Wine Awards which also included an impressive line-up of the State’s best wines, including three other Hunter Valley Trophy winning wines:-

• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard “The Ridge” Semillon 2012 – Trophy for Best Young Semillon
• Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006 – Trophy for Best Mature Dry White
• Tallavera Grove Shiraz 2011 – Trophy for Best Young Shiraz
• Hungerford Hill “Epic” Shiraz 2007 – Trophy for Best Mature Dry Red

Top 40 wines from the Hunter Valley included:-

• Ascella Wines Premium Chardonnay 2011 (Hunter Valley) $30
• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard Museum Reserve Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $60
• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard “The Ridge” Semillon 2010 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Brokenwood Stanleigh Park Semillon 2007 (Hunter Valley) $45
• De luliis Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $25
• De luliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $40
• First Creek Wines Winemakers Reserve Semillon 2009 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Gartelmann Hunter Estate Benjamin Semillon 2009 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Hungerford Hill Wines Epic Shiraz 2007 (Hunter Valley) $55
• Leogate Estate Reserve Semillon 2010 (Hunter Valley) $25
• McLeish Estate Semillon 2007 (Hunter Valley) $55
• McLeish Estate Semillon 2011 (Hunter Valley) $23
• Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $30
• Pepper Tree Wines Coquun Reserve Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $55
• Pokolbin Estate Riesling 2007 (Hunter Valley) $25
• Tallavera Grove Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $25
• Thomas Wines “The O.C.” Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $22
• Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $28
• Tulloch Wines Vineyard Selection Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $18
• Tyrrell’s Vineyards HVD Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Tyrrell’s Vineyards Vat 8 Shiraz 2010 (Hunter Valley) $50
• Tyrrell’s Vineyards Vat 8 Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $50

Hunter Valley Uncorked Balmoral will celebrate its seventh year of showcasing some of the region’s best wines and produce on Sunday 4 November between 11am and 5pm at Balmoral Beach. Many of the wineries in the 2012 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year Awards Top 40 will be attending and offering a range of premium Hunter Valley wines for tasting on the day.