Mount Mary winery in Yarra Valley named James Halliday’s 2018 Winery of the Year

THE Yarra Valley has dominated this year’s James Halliday Wine Companion awards, including one vineyard in the region that has taken out winery of the year.

Owners and winemakes of Mount Mary Vineyard, David Middleton and his son Sam Middleton. Picture: Sarah Matray

THE Yarra Valley has dominated this year’s James Halliday Wine Companion awards, with the Victorian wine region taking out the three of the six major categories, including winery of the year.

Picture: Sarah Matray

The doyen of Australian wine experts last night crowned Mount Mary as his 2018 winery of the year. Dappled Wines took out best new winery honours and the tight-knight family-run Boat O’Craigo as the “dark horse” winery to watch at the annual gala dinner held at the NGV’s Great Hall.

Set up by the late John Middleton in 1971, Mount Mary is still family owned and run, with John’s son David CEO of the company, and his grandson Sam the chief winemaker, a role he’s held since 2011.

“It’s a huge honour for us, we’re really rapt with it to be honest,” Sam said.

Famous with wine buffs for its single vineyard chardonnay, pinot, and two Bordeaux blends known as the Quintet and Triolet, Mr Halliday praised the 2015 Mount Mary vintage across the board.

“The 2015 vintage in the Yarra Valley was, quite simply, great, and Sam took full advantage of it, making exquisite wines,” Mr Halliday said.

Having grown up on the Mount Mary property in Coldstream, Mr Middleton said wines and vineyards had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember.

“It was inevitable I would become a part of the wine industry in some form,” he said.

“My grandfather believed that the Yarra was more suited to smaller boutique, high-quality makers better than bigger producers. It’s harder for smaller producers to stay current, but 45 years later this award is an indication of what we can achieve.”

Mount Mary wines are sold for upwards of $90 for the triolet, with good vintages of the quintet and pinot up to $150 a bottle.

Mr Middleton said producing wines to such a level was expensive.

“Quality Australian wine is relatively cheap compared with France and the US,” he said.

As for the Yarra Valley as a wine region, Mr Middleton was confident it would increase its already high standing on the world stage in coming years

“Australian wines and winemakers are thought of as some of the best in the world, and this will continue.”

Other winners in this year’s companion include winemaker of the year Paul Hotker of Bleasdale in the South Australian region of Langhorne Creek. The $800 2012 Henschke Hill of Grace was named wine of the year, while best value winery went to South Australia’s Grosset, famed for its riesling.

The Halliday Wine Companion goes on sale for $39.95 from today.