2010 finalists
Jim Chatto, Pepper Tree Wines
Sue Hodder & Allen Jenkins, Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Tom Newton, Hardys
John & Belinda Thomson, Crawford River
Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix
Adam Wadewitz & Viv Thomson, Best’s Great Western
Alex McKay, Collector
Tim Adams, Tim Adams Wines
2009 winners
Winemaker of the Year 2009: Andrew Wigan, Peter Lehmann Wines
Wine Australia Medal winner 2009: Sarah Fagan, De Bortoli, Yarra Valley
Len Evans Award for Leadership winner 2009: Kevin McLintock, McWilliams
2008 winners
Winemaker of the year 2008: Louisa Rose, Yalumba
Kemenys Medal winner 2008: Helen McCarthy
Len Evans Award for Leadership winner 2008: Robert Hill Smith
2007 winners
Winemaker of the year 2007: Steve Webber, De Bortoli
Kemenys Medal winner 2007: Kym Teusner
Len Evans Award for Leadership winner 2007: David Hohnen
-
-
Send to a friend
-
Print
del.icio.us this
Digg this
Winemaker of the Year Awards 2010
Our last four finalists continue to produce superb wines that set new standards of quality.
While the only criterion in nominating a winemaker as finalist in the Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year Awards is the quality of their wines, especially those released in the past year or so, the panel of judges is conscious of the value of presenting a balanced list of finalists.
The second group of nominees ensures that a good spread of states is present this year. Two of Australia’s largest companies, Foster’s and Hardys, are represented, the former by Wynns Coonawarra Estate chief winemaker, Sue Hodder, and Foster’s regional viticulturist, Allen Jenkins, and the latter by group white winemaker, Tom Newton. Jim Chatto of Pepper Tree Wines adds another medium-sized winery to previously announced nominees, Virginia Willcock of Vasse Felix, Tim Adams, and Adam Wadewitz and Viv Thomson of Best’s Great Western. Father and daughter team, John and Belinda Thomson of Crawford River join Alex McKay of Collector to underscore the fact that tiny wineries can make great wines. Age is never a consideration in the nomination process yet there is an admirable spread of ages among the finalists.
It’s worth noting, Sue Hodder and Allen Jenkins were nominated in 2008 and have continued their impressive work of revitalising the Wynns vineyards and producing truly outstanding Coonawarra reds, including some exemplary single-vineyard cabernets. Tom Newton is acknowledged for his work with white wines over many years and mainly for his stunning Eileen Hardy Chardonnays. Jim Chatto has revitalised the Pepper Tree Wines portfolio and found new directions for the company. His work with pinot noir in Tasmania is also turning heads. After learning her craft elsewhere Belinda Thomson returns to help her father continue to produce one of Australia’s most distinctive and fascinating expressions of riesling at Crawford.
TEXT PETER FORRESTAL IMAGE GRANT HARVEY
This article is from the August/September 2010 issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE.