Wine critic James Halliday has bestowed one of his highest accolades on the South Australian wine region of Langhorne Creek, naming Paul Hotker of the historic Bleasdale Vineyards as Winemaker of the Year for 2018.
Hotker was among the best and brightest Australian winemakers to be honoured at the fifth annual Qantas epiQure Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony, held tonight in Melbourne.
The hotly anticipated Wine of the Year and Best Shiraz titles went to the much lauded 2012 Henschke Hill of Grace, which is handpicked from 152-year-old vines in the Eden Valley.
The Yarra Valley was the front runner of the night, with single-vineyard estate Mount Mary picking up Winery of the Year and Best Pinot Noir, Dappled Wines named Best New Winery and Boat O’Craigo the Dark Horse to watch.
Clare Valley legend Jeffrey Grosset, of Grosset Wines, took out Best Value Winery for his globally renowned range.
The awards are based on the reviews in the 2018 Halliday Wine Companion book, on sale nationwide from tomorrow. Featuring more than 1200 wineries (including 78 new ones) and around 6840 individual wine ratings, it is the definitive guide to Australian wine.
The six major winners:
- Wine of the Year (sponsored by Qantas epiQure): 2012 Henschke Hill of Grace
- Winery of the Year (sponsored by Wine Australia): Mount Mary
- Winemaker of the Year (sponsored by Wine Australia): Paul Hotker, Bleasdale Vineyards
- Best Value Winery of the Year (sponsored by Thomas Foods International): Grosset Wines
- Best New Winery: Dappled Wines
- Dark Horse Winery of the Year: Boat O’Craigo