First Creek Wines has been shortlisted for Australian Winery of the Year in the Halliday Wine Companion 2024.
The Hunter Valley landmark is one of only 10 in the country to make the grade.
Located on McDonalds Road in Pokolbin, First Creek is the brainchild of owners Greg and Jenny Silkman, who purchased the parcel of land in 1998.
Named after the water source that has been feeding the surrounding vineyards for generations, the site has been lovingly upheld using traditional winemaking practices.
Releasing its first wines in 2005, First Creek has grown from strength-to-strength while maintaining its vision of becoming one of the region’s leading family-owned wine brands.
Together with their son, winemaker and COO Shaun Silkman, Greg and Liz have slowly been collecting accolades, firsts and trophies throughout the past eight years.
Awards include Liz being named Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year three times in 10 years, the 2018 Halliday Chardonnay Challenge and Best Chardonnay in NSW in 2019.
It was also named in the Top 5 Australian Chardonnays in the 2019 Chardonnay Challenge by James Halliday.
Nothing in First Creek’s successful history will trump being named “Winery of the Year” by Halliday, says Greg Silkman.
“Being Shortlisted for Winery of the Year by Halliday is confirmation to us that we are achieving what we set out to do 20 years ago when we made our first wine under the First Creek label, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” he said.
“Being shortlisted among such great company is in itself an achievement and its great news for the Hunter Valley, too, proving that we as a brand and the Hunter Valley as a region are capable of great things.”
Winery of the Year is judged by Halliday’s panel of expert judges.
The winner will be announced in Melbourne at the launch of the 2024 guide on 2 August.
For more stories like this:
- Andy Allen gets back to basics
- What’s on in Newcastle
- Rural homestead on Maitland’s fringes to fetch around $4.5 million
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
