Husband and wife Andrew and Lisa Margan have been inducted as Living Legends at the 18th Legends Awards in the Hunter Valley.
Andrew Margan was inducted as the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of his longstanding commitment to securing the Hunter Valley’s place among the world’s great wine regions.
Lisa Margan was inducted as the Tourism Industry Living Legend.
Andrew, a winemaker, viticulturist and passionate advocate for sustainable farming, co-founded Margan Wines in Broke Fordwich in 1996 with his wife Lisa, building it into one of the Hunter Valley’s most respected wine brands.
A former president of the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association from 2011 to 2013, Andrew has led industry advocacy on land use, coal seam gas and vineyard protection.
With a winemaking philosophy shaped by 20 vintages at Tyrrell’s and time in European vineyards, Andrew continues to craft wines alongside his son Ollie that reflect their unique site and soils.
In 2015 he was named Hunter Valley Viticulturist of the Year and in 2021 Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year, joining a long list of accolades recognising his leadership and legacy.
Andrew has also served on the board of Australia’s wine industry peak body Wine Australia and is currently a board member of the NSW Wine Industry Association.
Lisa Margan has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley’s food, wine and hospitality scene, playing a key role in supporting countless initiatives and enriching the local community.
With a background spanning teaching, nutrition and fine dining – including training under Hunter Valley Tourism Legend and head chef at Bistro Molines, Robert Molines, and time spent as a chef in Bordeaux – Lisa brought her vision of agri-dining to life in Broke.
Margan now boasts a five-star winery, a sustainably run vineyard, a hatted restaurant and a cellar door that has received national acclaim.
Beyond the business, Lisa has been a tireless advocate for the industry, serving as deputy chair of the Hunter Culinary Association, a founding board member of WOHO (Women of Hospitality), and a mentor to countless emerging professionals.
Among her many accolades are the Women in Foodservice Leadership Award and Outstanding Contribution by an Individual from the Hunter Culinary Association.
Iain Riggs AM, chair of the Living Legends said, “Andrew Margan is a true Hunter Valley Wine Living Legend for his tireless work in the promotion of the Hunter Valley, for tackling the wine industry’s political foes head-on and for an undying belief in the oldest continuous wine region in Australia.
“Lisa’s resume is a blueprint for anyone with a desire to make the Hunter Valley a must-go-to destination.
“The word passion, along with dedication, can often be overused, but in the case of the 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Living Legend, both sit comfortably with a very worthy recipient, Lisa Margan.”
The First Creek Winemaking Services 2025 Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year was awarded to Liz Silkman.
Liz, chief winemaker at First Creek Wines and co-owner, with husband Shaun, of Silkman Wines, has been recognised as Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year for the fourth time.
Her commitment to producing true-to-style Hunter Valley wines has resulted in a string of prestigious accolades, including being the first Hunter Valley winemaker to be awarded the nationally acclaimed Halliday Winemaker of the Year in August 2024, multiple varietal and winery awards, and 27 wines scoring 95 points or more across her Silkman and First Creek labels.
Over the last year, Liz has led First Creek Winemaking through a complex sustainability certification process, showcasing her commitment to future-focused winemaking.
The finalists in this category were Bryan Currie, Mike De Iuliis, Richard Done, Brendan Kaczorowski, Valentina Moresco and Liz Silkman.
The Jurds 2025 Hunter Valley Viticulturist of the Year was presented to Louise Eather, assistant vineyard manager at Tyrrell’s.
Through her science and viticultural studies, Louise brings deep technical knowledge and practical expertise to her role at Tyrrell’s.
Louise is a champion of sustainable viticulture, contributing to Tyrrell’s Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, their participation in the EcoVineyards Program and as an active member of Hunter Valley Wine Country Landcare.
She pioneers practices such as precise pest monitoring, regenerative floor management and block redevelopment to optimise canopy performance and fruit quality.
Widely respected in the industry, she has contributed to technical committees, mentored young professionals, and is currently working on national research into fungicide resistance.
The finalists in this category were Louise Eather, Brent Hutton and Jeremy O’Brien.
Alisdair Tulloch, vineyard and operations manager at Keith Tulloch Wine and co-owner of Aeon Wines, was awarded the Riedel 2025 Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year.
He has championed sustainable practices, secured Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification and maintained the winery’s carbon-neutral status – placing it among Australia’s Top 50 vineyards (Young Gun of Wine awards).
He launched his own label, Aeon Wines, with his wife in 2024, producing 100 percent Hunter Valley wines that have received critical acclaim and export success.
Passionate about the future of the region and preserving its legacy for generations to come, Alisdair mentors emerging talent through the HVWTA Young Winemakers Group and serves as HVWTA’s inaugural board youth advisor.
The finalists in this category were Nathan Allen, Riley Curtis, Bianca Fraser, Hannah Joliffe, Alisdair Tulloch and Allana Wigley.
The PKF 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Operator of the Year was awarded to Our Italian Table, a destination cooking school that has grown from a passion project for owners Jen and Vince Nicita to a thriving tourism business and standout visitor experience in the Hunter Valley.
Finalists in this category were iHop Hunter Valley, Our Italian Table and Wine Fairy Events.
The HVWTA 2025 Hunter Valley Accommodation Operator of the Year was awarded to Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.
Welcoming over 260,000 visitors annually, Rydges Resorts champions the Hunter Valley through locally focused food and wine experiences, curated tours and major event partnerships that drive regional visitation.
Finalists in this category were Hunter Valley Stays Australia, Rydges Resort Hunter Valley and The Lane Retreat.
Brokenwood Wines was named as Wine Selectors 2025 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year.
This is the third time Brokenwood Wines have been awarded Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year showcasing their commitment to premium wine, exceptional hospitality and tailored tasting experiences.
Offering a premium experience, guests can enjoy iconic Brokenwood wines including the ILR Reserve Semillon and Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz and enjoy immersive tastings, and dining at their award-winning onsite restaurant, The Wood.
Regional collaboration with local partners to enhance regional tourism through packages, campaigns, and events has contributed to continued growth in visitor numbers over the last year.
Finalists in this category were Bonvilla Estate, Brokenwood Wines, McCaffrey’s Estate, Saddlers Creek, Scarborough Wine Co, Thomas Wines and Winmark Wines.
“These awards not only honour the legends of our industry – they also highlight the talent, resilience and forward thinking that defines the Hunter Valley today,” said Chris Tyrrell, president of the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association.
Awards
Riedel Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year
Alisdair Tulloch, Keith Tulloch Wine & Aeon Wines
PKF Hunter Valley Tourism Operator of the Year
Our Italian Table
Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association Hunter Valley Accommodation Operator of the Year
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Jurds Hunter Valley Viticulturist of the Year
Louise Eather, Tyrrell’s
Wine Selectors Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year
Brokenwood Wines
First Creek Winemaking Services Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year
Liz Silkman, First Creek & Silkman Wines
Hunter Valley Tourism Industry Living Legend
Lisa Margan
Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend
Andrew Margan
Photo: Lisa and Andrew Margan. Photo: Chris Elfes.
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