CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (17:08): I want to celebrate something those of us from the Hunter have known for a very long time: the Hunter Valley is the best wine region in Australia, producing some of the best wines anywhere in the world. The results of the 2026 PKF Hunter Valley Wine Show prove it. The 54th show attracted 69 exhibitors and an extraordinary 652 entries, showcasing the quality, diversity and history of an industry that is part of the very identity of our region.
At the top of the honours list was Brokenwood Wines, whose outstanding 2019 ILR Reserve Semillon was named Best White Wine of the Show. It didn't stop there. That was the wine that also won Best Semillon, Best Single Vineyard White Wine and Best Two-Year-Old and Older Semillon, while Brokenwood's 2026 Oakey Creek Vineyard Stockyards Block Semillon took out Best Current Semillon.
On the red side, De Iuliis Wines claimed Best Red Wine of Show with its 2023 Limited Release Shiraz, which also took home Best Shiraz and Best Mature Three-Year-Old and Older Shiraz. That is the Hunter Valley semillon and Hunter Valley shiraz doing exactly what they've done for generations—setting the benchmark. Thomas Wines had an outstanding show, winning Best Single Vineyard Red Wine and Best Two-Year-Old Shiraz for its 2024 Sweetwater Ridge shiraz, as well as Best Current Vintage and One-Year-Old Shiraz for its 2025 Synergy Shiraz.
Silkman Wines swept the chardy honours, winning Best Current and One-Year-Old Chardonnay with its 2025 SILK Chardonnay, and Best Two-Year-Old and Older Chardonnay for its 2023 SILK Chardonnay. Congratulations also went to Margan for Best One-Year-Old Semillon, Tyrrell's for Best Museum White Wine, and Mount Pleasant for Best Museum Red Wine, and Audrey Wilkinson won Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance for the second consecutive year.
The depth of Hunter wine was fully on display. Briar Ridge won Best Other White Varietals and White Blends. Hungerford Hill won Best Verdelho.
McLeish Estate won best rosé; Glenesk Wines, Best Off-Dry or Sweet White Wine; Draytons Family Wines, Best Fortified Wine or Vermouth; Mercer Wines, Best Other Red Varietals and Red Blends; and Bonvilla Estate, best wine from a small producer. Mount Eyre also took home the Lone Pine Barracks Officers Mess Silver Bullet. These are not isolated successes.
They represent generations of families, growers, winemakers and businesses who have built up an international reputation for excellence. We have the history, we have the people, we have the vineyards and we have the trophies to prove it. The Hunter Valley is not just one of Australia's great wine regions; it's Australia's greatest wine region, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of it.