Scarborough Wine Co. stole the show at the 2021 Hunter Valley Legends & Wine Industry Awards gala dinner held last night at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort in front of more than 300 guests.
The winery won the Hunter Valley Award for Innovation.
Judged by Siobhan Curran from the University of Newcastle, this inaugural award went to Scarborough “for their incredible commitment to always challenging the average”.
“Their agility and intrinsic ability to stay ahead of the competition was recognised and judges recognised the introduction of clever and market leading winery experiences created as a result of Covid-19 restrictions,” Curran said.
Scarborough also won Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year. The winery previously won the award in 2009.
Merralea Scarborough was also named Hunter Valley Tourism Industry Living Legend for her more than 30 years service to the local industry.
And Scarborough’s viticulturist Liz Riley jointly won the Hunter Valley Award for Excellence alongside Scott Bartlett from Tyrrell’s.
Andrew Margan was named Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year.
“What I like to think I bring to the table in this ultra-competitive wine world is the important connection between growing our own grapes and making our own wine,” Andrew says.
“Over more than 40 vintages I have developed my own unique style of winemaking.
“I make wines of structure, balance, elegance and texture. Wines that speak of their variety and the soil in which they are grown. And importantly, wines with their own sense of place.”
Margan’s winemaker Nicole Wilson was named Hunter Valley Rising Star of the Year.
Viticulturist of the Year is Steve Ferguson of Mount Pleasant Wines.
The Wine Industry Heritage Award went to the Hunter Valley Heritage Cairn Trail.
The Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend was awarded to Iain Riggs AM.
Recently retiring after more than 30 years as the helm of Brokenwood where he was managing director and winemaker and worked since 1982, Iain and his partner Sally Margan have become custodians of the famed Mistress Block that has produced many iconic Shiraz wines over the years.
Iain, under his new guise Riggs Winemaking, also continues to provide winemaking consulting services in the Hunter Valley.
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