Hunter Valley based Winemaker of the Year finalist, Bryan Currie has picked up nine medals at regional wine shows in September.

The Riverina Winemakers Association hosted a series of wine show awards at a single gala event in Griffith, including the Tumbarumba Wine Show, Australian Italian Varieties and the Australian Sweet Wine Challenge, to name a few.

Tumbarumba Wine Show champions the excellence of the smaller growers and winemakers who produce their own boutique labels. The Australian Italian Varieties Show was created to focus specifically on the development of Australian wines from Italian varieties, while the Sweet Wine Challenge is a chance for winemakers to have a little fun with the fruitier flavours.

The senior Winemaker at Iris Capital offerings Dalwood Estate, Sweetwater and Hungerford Hill, won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals for wines predominantly from his first vintage in the Hunter (2017).

Bryan said what made one of those wins particularly sweet was that it also offered a link to a past career highlight.

“Winning the Australian Italian Varieties Wine gold medal for the Hungerford Hill 2017 Fiano was a great moment for me,” Bryan said.

“I know the grape well, so it’s like I’ve come full circle with the variety.”

In 2006, Bryan worked directly with the same grape variety in Southern Italy during his time living in one of the country’s most famous wine-growing regions in the hills above Naples.

“It is great to finally see the potential of this grape in Australia – I think it will be very well received. Firstly, it’s easy to pronounce, even easier to drink and a real fresh, aromatic flavour that suits our climate.”

The Fiano pairs particularly well with seafood, according to Bryan.

“I love the grape, it creates a wine that suits our lifestyle. It matches well with oysters or pasta and basically does what a Semillon or Riesling can do, but with more flavour.”

Throughout his career, Bryan has had a clear vision to make wines that speak clearly of the place they are grown and express a unique distinct personality. He focuses closely on fine tuning viticulture and winemaking practices that gives these varieties more distinctive regional characters.

The recent medal haul adds to a host of accolades including a gold medal win in the Australian National Single Vineyard Wine Show for the Hungerford Hill 2017 Epic Hunter Valley Shiraz.

Bryan has also been nominated for the Winemaker of the Year title. The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenolgy peer-nominated title highlights and rewards a winemaker’s talent, creativity, innovation, passion for the industry and overall professionalism. The winner will be announced at a gala ceremony in November.

IMAGE | Award-winning Winemaker, Bryan Currie.