We are toasting to the talents of our team this week, with our Chief Winemaker Adam Eggins receiving the coveted Winemaker Award at the Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame on Friday. The regional celebration, held once a decade, recognises outstanding individuals who have demonstrated dedication, innovation, and expertise in all areas of the wine industry over a significant period of time. 

Announced at a major celebration held at O’Leary Walker Wines and attended by 150 guests, the Clare Valley Hall of Fame unveiled a suite of award winners, including the Winemaker Award, Viticulture Award, Rising Star Award and Regional Ambassador Award, as well as inducting five new ‘legends’ into the Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame. 

“Clare is such a special region, and it’s an incredible honour to be recognised amongst my friends, neighbours and colleagues with the Winemaker Award,” - Chief Winemaker, Adam Eggins. 

“It has been an exceptionally challenging year for the wine industry, but the individual talents and passions demonstrated through these awards remain a constant source of inspiration.”

The legends inducted into this year’s Clare Valley Hall of Fame include a selection of well-known names across the region, including Peter Barry (Jim Barry Wines), Roly Birks (Wendouree), Neil Paulett (Paulett Wines), Andrew Pike (Pikes Wines), and Stephanie Toole (Mount Horrocks Wines).

Other award winners on the night included:

• Viticulturist Award: Alister Sandow (Blenheim Proprietors)
• Rising Star Award: Andrew Kenny (Kenny Wines)
• Regional Ambassador Award: Warrick Duthy (Watervale Epicurean Society, Watervale General Store, Watervale Hotel & Providore and Penobscot Farm)

Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association Chair and Taylors Wines Managing Director Mitchell Taylor said of the awards: “The Clare Valley Hall of Fame was a truly special night. It provided an ideal stage to recognise individuals in our region who have demonstrated remarkable dedication and substantial impact in the realms of winemaking, grape growing, marketing, and service provision throughout their careers.”

Adam Eggins joined Taylors Wines as Chief Winemaker in 1999. His first vintage at our family winery was a baptism of fire in 2000, with drought conditions severely impacting yields. The 2001 vintage allowed Adam to demonstrate his true skills as a great winemaker, with wines from this year gaining international acclaim. 

Since he started at Taylors, the winery has gone from strength to strength, with awards including the Warren Winiarski Trophy for the best cabernet sauvignon for Taylors St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 at the International Wine Challenge in London (2013), the World’s Best Cabernet at the International Competition of Cabernets in Bordeaux for The Visionary 2014, and finally, achieving a ‘perfect’ 100-point rating and the International Champion Trophy for Taylors Heritage Shiraz 2021 at the VINUS International Wine & Spirits Competition.

For more information about the Clare Valley Hall of Fame or the Clare Valley wine region, visit www.clarevalleywine.com.au.