Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently had the pleasure of attending the 16th annual Hunter Valley Legends Awards at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley. The gala night brought together over 380 industry professionals and guests from the Hunter Valley wine and tourism industries. The event serves as a tribute to the region's rich heritage, honouring the enduring influence of the Hunter Valley and its dedicated wine growers, winemakers and tourism operators.

Four living legends were inducted on the night, taking the total number of Hunter Valley Legends to 33. John Davis, Graham Doran and Dr Harry Tullock were inducted as the 2023 Wine Industry Living Legends and John Stevens was inducted as the 2023 Tourism Living Legend.

John Davis, owner and managing director of Pepper Tree Wines, Briar Ridge Vineyard, Tallavera Grove and Carillion Wines, has forged a reputation as an astute viticulturist with a skill in matching soil types with the most suited grape varieties. As the first to plant emerging varieties in the Hunter Valley, John has championed innovation in his vineyards and, more broadly, through his investment into soil mapping across the Hunter region.

Throughout his more than 50 years in viticulture, Graham Doran has worked with some of the Hunter Valley's most iconic vineyards. His work for Mount Dangar Vineyard and Mount Pleasant led to outstanding outcomes with countless trophies and medals awarded. Graham led numerous viticultural trials unique to the Hunter Valley and documented his knowledge for future generations in the recently published Beginners Guide to Viticulture in the Hunter Valley.

Dr Harry Tulloch has been a true pioneer through his immense innovative viticultural research which led to the selection of premium quality semillon and shiraz clones. Shiraz clone 1654 is still in circulation today and has become one of the most widely planted in Australia. Throughout his career, Harry has championed new styles of wines and was the first in the Hunter to incorporate verdelho into blends of semillon.

John Stevens was inducted as the 2023 Tourism Industry Living Legend in honour of his 35-year commitment to tourism development in the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. The Vintage development is one of the regions most significant and ambitious integrated tourism developments, which has delivered significant infrastructure improvements for the Pokolbin area.

The night also recognised the depth of talent currently contributing to the success of the Hunter Valley. Jenna Vaughan, the sales and marketing manager of de Iuliis Wines, was named Riedel 2023 Young Achiever of the Year. Her communications and marketing background has helped her excel in multiple roles in the Hunter Valley in the field of brand development and marketing.

The First Creek Winemaking Services 2023 Winemaker of the Year was awarded to Andrew Thomas. Andrew's 37th consecutive Hunter Valley vintage speaks of his continuous engagement and passion for the region. His contribution includes investing in the modernising and revitalising of his vineyards, replanting vines with preservation of genetic purity, promoting quality and diversity of the signature Hunter Valley varieties, semillon and shiraz, along with the application of innovative techniques in the winery.

Nick Looby from Margan Wines & Restaurant was named Jurds 2023 Viticulturist of the Year. Nick manages a team of six full-time vineyard staff at Margan Wines, promoting sustainability and regenerative methods and approaches to viticulture.

The Margan Ceres Hill vineyard has recently been selected to be part of the National EcoVineyards Program. Winmark Wines were crowned Wine Selectors 2023 Cellar Door of the Year. Karin Adcock, owner of Winmark Wines in Broke Fordwich, has transformed the property over the last six years to now feature a cellar door, a sculpture garden, an art gallery, a gift shop and four guest properties. Accommodation Operator of the Year was awarded for the second consecutive year to Spicers Guesthouse, one of the Hunter Valley's leading luxury retreats. Stay n' Sip was announced as Tourism Operator of the Year. After only 18 months in business, Pierre Toumanoff and Mercedes Mendoza take their private wine experiences directly to guests at their accommodation and venues. The 2023 Outstanding Contribution of Individual was awarded to Liz Riley, a renowned viticulturist, consultant and adviser. Liz worked on behalf of the region to coordinate an emergency response for aerial pest and disease application. She's recognised throughout the national wine industry for her work and collaborative approach. (Time expired)