Tim Kirk from Clonakilla has been named Gourmet Traveller WINE's Winemaker of the Year for 2013.
Kirk is winemaker and manager at the family winery in the Canberra District, and was first nominated as a finalist in the competition back in 2003.
Chairman of judges, Peter Forrestal, said his "crowning achievement", the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is a world-class Australian red.
Fellow judge, Andrew Caillard, said, "There is something metaphysical and unworldly about the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. It is so incredibly perfumed and rich, yet poised and mineral in character."
Tom Barry of Jim Barry Wines based in the Clare Valley, South Australia took out the night's Young Winemaker of the Year award.
Judge Sophie Otton said, "The rieslings have better aromatics and finesse than ever, and the reds have more elegant and restrained oak treatment, while still being of the same Jim Barry mould. His time abroad has obviously had an influence on his approach, and it’s good to see a young winemaker taking up the challenge of making and promoting interesting riesling. It is for these reasons particularly that he has been named Young Winemaker of the Year in 2013."
Another major award on the night was the Len Evans Medal for Leadership.
Iain Riggs, chief winemaker and managing director at Brokenwood was the recipient for 2013, and judge Nick Bulleid MW said, "Besides creating iconic Hunter Valley wines, including the Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz rated Exceptional in Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine and ILR Reserve Semillon, he’s provided a great training ground, particularly in his recruitment of vintage workers, taking on many of the youngsters and giving them all his knowledge.
"Riggs also helped foster a community of Hunter winemakers through such initiatives as the instigation of the post-vintage semillon tasting."
Riggs has been in the winemaking industry for many years. He was the inaugural chair of Wine Hunter Marketing and president of the Australian Winemakers' Forum, an industry lobby representing small winemakers. He then became vice president of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia.
The inaugural Perpetual Viticulturist of the Year Award went to Ray Guerin (pictured above), Shaw & Smith’s Group Viticulturist responsible for the Tolpuddle Vineyard in Tasmania, as well as the company’s three Adelaide Hills’ properties.
Steve Flamsteed, winemaker at Giant Steps, who leases Guerin’s Applejack Vineyard in the Yarra, said, "Ray Guerin is the greatest viticulturist this country has and is also one of the nicest blokes you will come across."