The Hunter Valley’s Liz Silkman has been named Halliday Winemaker of the Year 2025 – a first for a Hunter winemaker.
Silkman Blackberry Semillon 2023 was also named Semillon of the Year with 98 points.
Silkman, which started as a place for Liz and winemaker husband Shaun to collaborate on making wines they both loved, and utilising the best fruit parcels they could get their hands on, is now one of the hottest micro wine brands in the country having also been shortlisted by Halliday for Best Winery.
“Anyone that knows me will attest to the fact that I’m not one for the limelight, so I’m still in shock at being named Halliday Winemaker of the Year,” Liz says.
“It’s so exciting too for Silkman, a tiny brand Shaun and I started as a platform for he and I to collaborate on winemaking ideas, styles and have a bit of fun.
“We love being able to identify small parcels of exceptional fruit and make contemporary wines that we love to drink ourselves and share with friends.
“So being shortlisted for Winery of the Year is just incredible and to see our little Sem up there as Semillon of the Year, just feels surreal.
“We couldn’t be happier.”
Shaun and Liz Silkman both juggle day jobs as COO and chief winemaker respectively in their Hunter Valley family business First Creek Wines, and together are responsible for producing more than a million cases of wine each year.
Silkman became a place for creativity and freedom to make wines that they wanted to experiment with.
Wines that wouldn’t necessarily fit a bigger brand and broader distribution, but wines that they could have a bit of fun with.
Liz and Shaun both took different paths to winemaking in the Hunter.
Liz began her career in 1999 as lab technician at Brokenwood Wines in the Hunter, having completed a Bachelor of Science Degree at Newcastle University, and later a Graduate Diploma in Oenology at the University of Adelaide.
She worked at numerous wineries across Australia, the US and New Zealand before returning to the Hunter as winemaker at Tempus Two for six years prior to taking on her current role as chief winemaker at First Creek Wines.
Liz was Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial.
She was the first winemaker to be named Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year three times.
Shaun began working as a cellar hand in the family wine business in 1999, while studying a Bachelor of Business & Commerce Degree at the University of Newcastle. At the time he did not intend to pursue a career in the wine industry, however quickly realised he could apply his business acumen to the rapidly expanding family business and became the driving force in creating what is today one of the most successful contract winemaking and bottling businesses in Australia.
Shaun’s passion for wine led him to later attain a Bachelor of Wine Science Degree through Charles Sturt University.
Liz and Shaun are excited to have such accolades being ticked off their list of accolades for their Silkman brand that they’ve long been aspiring to achieve.
Trophies which include winning NSW Wine of the Year, and the Halliday Chardonnay Challenge and now this Halliday recognition.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Liz for being awarded Halliday Winemaker of Year,” Shaun says.
“We are both so humbled by this new recognition for our small brand.
“We make only tiny parcels of wine from the very best fruit available, and our aim really is just to make outstanding contemporary versions of the varieties we love.”
Silkman makes two ranges of wine in their small stable, Reserve and Estate, and produce limited volumes of each of the wines in their portfolio, comprising Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Shiraz Pinot.
A third range ‘Silk’ will soon be added to their exciting portfolio of small batch wines.
Halliday Wine Awards
Winemaker of the Year
Liz Silkman
People’s Choice
Gibson Wines
Dark Horse Winery
Chalou Wines
Best Value Winery
Mulline
Best New Winery
Sami-Odi
Viticulturist of the Year
Bart Molony, Vasse Felix
Winery of the Year
Giant Steps
Wine of the Year
Oakridge Wines 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2022
Hall of Fame
Sue Hodder, Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate
Varietal winners
Chardonnay | White Wine
Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2022 – 98 points
Shiraz | Red Wine
Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2 2022 Yarra Valley – 99 points
Sparkling Wine
Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2018 King Valley – 98 points
Riesling
Rieslingfreak No. 12 Riesling 2023 Eden Valley – 98 points
Semillon
Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023 Hunter Valley – 98 points
Sauvignon Blanc
Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Wrattonbully, SA – 97 points
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Quealy Winemakers Feri Maris Single Block Pinot Grigio 2023 Mornington Peninsula – 96 points
Other Whites & Blends
MMAD Vineyard Blewitt Springs Chenin Blanc 2022 McLaren Vale – 97 points
Rosé
Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2023 Central Victoria – 96 points
Pinot Noir
Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 Yarra Valley – 98 points
Grenache & Blends
Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2023 McLaren Vale – 98 points
Cabernet Sauvignon
Houghton Jack Mann Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Frankland River – 98 points
Cabernet & Blends
Mount Mary Quintet 2022 Yarra Valley – 98 points
Other Reds & Blends
Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2022 Yarra Valley – 98 points
Sweet Wine
Pressing Matters R139 Riesling 2022 Tasmania – 97 points
Fortified Wine
All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV Rutherglen – 100 points
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