Living legends of Hunter wine and tourism honoured at industry awards gala

The Advertiser

07-06-2025

Andrew and Lisa Margan, the Hunter Valley husband and wife winemaking powerhouse, were named living legends in the region's wine and tourism industries this week at the annual Hunter Valley Legends Awards.
Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley hosted the gala event, attended by some 330 industry guests, to pay homage to the region's most respected leaders, innovators and rising stars.
Andrew Margan was inducted as the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of his long-standing commitment to securing the Hunter Valley's place among the world's great wine regions. Mr Margan's wife, Lisa, who has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley's food, wine and hospitality scene, was similarly inducted as a Living Legend of the Hunter's tourism industry, after playing a key role in supporting countless initiatives and enriching the local community.
"These awards not only honour the legends of our industry-they also highlight the talent, resilience and forward thinking that defines the Hunter Valley today," Chris Tyrrell, the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association president, said.
Iain Riggs, the acclaimed winemaker who led the rise of the Brokenwood label in the Hunter, and the chair of the Association's Living Legends said Mr and Mrs Margan's contributions to the industry was "tireless" and a "blueprint for anyone with a desire to make the Hunter Valley a must-go location".
The word passion, along with dedication, can often be overused, but in the case of the 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Living Legend, both sit comfortably with a very worthy recipient, Lisa Margan," he said.
Mr Margan, he said, had tackled "the wine industry's political foes head-on" and had an "undying belief in the oldest continuous wine region in Australia".
Liz Silkman, the chief winemaker at fellow Hunter label First Creek, was recognised as the Association's Winemaker of the Year, while Tyrrell's assistant vineyard manager Louise Eather was named Viticulturist of the Year for her leadership in sustainable viticulture.
Rising star Alisdair Tulloch was named the Association's Young Achiever of the Year. Mr Tulloch, a manager at his father Keith's label and co-owner of Aeon Wines, was similarly lauded for his commitment to sustainable practices, securing Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification and maintaining the winery's carbon-neutral status, placing it among Australia's Top 50 vineyards.
Andrew and Lisa Margan, the Hunter Valley husband and wife winemaking powerhouse, were named living legends in the region's wine and tourism industries this week at the annual Hunter Valley Legends Awards.
Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley hosted the gala event, attended by some 330 industry guests, to pay homage to the region's most respected leaders, innovators and rising stars.
Andrew Margan was inducted as the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of his long-standing commitment to securing the Hunter Valley's place among the world's great wine regions. Mr Margan's wife, Lisa, who has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley's food, wine and hospitality scene, was similarly inducted as a Living Legend of the Hunter's tourism industry, after playing a key role in supporting countless initiatives and enriching the local community.
"These awards not only honour the legends of our industry-they also highlight the talent, resilience and forward thinking that defines the Hunter Valley today," Chris Tyrrell, the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association president, said.
Iain Riggs, the acclaimed winemaker who led the rise of the Brokenwood label in the Hunter, and the chair of the Association's Living Legends said Mr and Mrs Margan's contributions to the industry was "tireless" and a "blueprint for anyone with a desire to make the Hunter Valley a must-go location".
The word passion, along with dedication, can often be overused, but in the case of the 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Living Legend, both sit comfortably with a very worthy recipient, Lisa Margan," he said.
Mr Margan, he said, had tackled "the wine industry's political foes head-on" and had an "undying belief in the oldest continuous wine region in Australia".
Liz Silkman, the chief winemaker at fellow Hunter label First Creek, was recognised as the Association's Winemaker of the Year, while Tyrrell's assistant vineyard manager Louise Eather was named Viticulturist of the Year for her leadership in sustainable viticulture.
Rising star Alisdair Tulloch was named the Association's Young Achiever of the Year. Mr Tulloch, a manager at his father Keith's label and co-owner of Aeon Wines, was similarly lauded for his commitment to sustainable practices, securing Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification and maintaining the winery's carbon-neutral status, placing it among Australia's Top 50 vineyards.
Andrew and Lisa Margan, the Hunter Valley husband and wife winemaking powerhouse, were named living legends in the region's wine and tourism industries this week at the annual Hunter Valley Legends Awards.
Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley hosted the gala event, attended by some 330 industry guests, to pay homage to the region's most respected leaders, innovators and rising stars.
Andrew Margan was inducted as the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of his long-standing commitment to securing the Hunter Valley's place among the world's great wine regions. Mr Margan's wife, Lisa, who has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley's food, wine and hospitality scene, was similarly inducted as a Living Legend of the Hunter's tourism industry, after playing a key role in supporting countless initiatives and enriching the local community.
"These awards not only honour the legends of our industry-they also highlight the talent, resilience and forward thinking that defines the Hunter Valley today," Chris Tyrrell, the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association president, said.
Iain Riggs, the acclaimed winemaker who led the rise of the Brokenwood label in the Hunter, and the chair of the Association's Living Legends said Mr and Mrs Margan's contributions to the industry was "tireless" and a "blueprint for anyone with a desire to make the Hunter Valley a must-go location".
The word passion, along with dedication, can often be overused, but in the case of the 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Living Legend, both sit comfortably with a very worthy recipient, Lisa Margan," he said.
Mr Margan, he said, had tackled "the wine industry's political foes head-on" and had an "undying belief in the oldest continuous wine region in Australia".
Liz Silkman, the chief winemaker at fellow Hunter label First Creek, was recognised as the Association's Winemaker of the Year, while Tyrrell's assistant vineyard manager Louise Eather was named Viticulturist of the Year for her leadership in sustainable viticulture.
Rising star Alisdair Tulloch was named the Association's Young Achiever of the Year. Mr Tulloch, a manager at his father Keith's label and co-owner of Aeon Wines, was similarly lauded for his commitment to sustainable practices, securing Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification and maintaining the winery's carbon-neutral status, placing it among Australia's Top 50 vineyards.
Andrew and Lisa Margan, the Hunter Valley husband and wife winemaking powerhouse, were named living legends in the region's wine and tourism industries this week at the annual Hunter Valley Legends Awards.
Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley hosted the gala event, attended by some 330 industry guests, to pay homage to the region's most respected leaders, innovators and rising stars.
Andrew Margan was inducted as the 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Living Legend in recognition of his long-standing commitment to securing the Hunter Valley's place among the world's great wine regions. Mr Margan's wife, Lisa, who has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley's food, wine and hospitality scene, was similarly inducted as a Living Legend of the Hunter's tourism industry, after playing a key role in supporting countless initiatives and enriching the local community.
"These awards not only honour the legends of our industry-they also highlight the talent, resilience and forward thinking that defines the Hunter Valley today," Chris Tyrrell, the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association president, said.
Iain Riggs, the acclaimed winemaker who led the rise of the Brokenwood label in the Hunter, and the chair of the Association's Living Legends said Mr and Mrs Margan's contributions to the industry was "tireless" and a "blueprint for anyone with a desire to make the Hunter Valley a must-go location".
The word passion, along with dedication, can often be overused, but in the case of the 2025 Hunter Valley Tourism Living Legend, both sit comfortably with a very worthy recipient, Lisa Margan," he said.
Mr Margan, he said, had tackled "the wine industry's political foes head-on" and had an "undying belief in the oldest continuous wine region in Australia".
Liz Silkman, the chief winemaker at fellow Hunter label First Creek, was recognised as the Association's Winemaker of the Year, while Tyrrell's assistant vineyard manager Louise Eather was named Viticulturist of the Year for her leadership in sustainable viticulture.
Rising star Alisdair Tulloch was named the Association's Young Achiever of the Year. Mr Tulloch, a manager at his father Keith's label and co-owner of Aeon Wines, was similarly lauded for his commitment to sustainable practices, securing Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification and maintaining the winery's carbon-neutral status, placing it among Australia's Top 50 vineyards.