Sparks, who took over the top job at Mount Peasant winery earlier this year, has produced the NSW Wine of the Year with the 2017 Old Paddock Old Hill Shiraz.

It capped a wonderful run of success for the Lower Hunter winemakers who picked up seven trophies out of a possible 16, with a further two going to the Two Rivers winery at Denman. 

The Old Paddock Old Hill medium bodied red, one of the Hunter’s best known shiraz, collected three trophies as wine of the year, as well as best shiraz and best dry red.

Head judge David Brookes described it as “a magnificent wine of impeccable pedigree, purity and balance”.

He said the wine show highlighted what the Hunter does best – producing medium-bodied, savoury reds “that are approachable and delicious in their youth and have everything needed for a noble life in the cellar”. 

At a time when many wines are well north of the $100 a bottle mark, this wine also screams value at $50.

Sparks was understandably thrilled.

“We knew it was a cracking wine wine, but this certainly wasn’t expected,” he said.

“When we lined up our wines to taste pre bottling, this one really stood out.

“It was softer, more elegant, really lovely. It’s typical Hunter Valley really.”

Sparks says he has been fortunate.

“Not too many winemakers get a vintage as good as 2017 in their first year as chief winemaker,” he said.

Sparks has taken out the top gong of the NSW Wine Awards previously, winning with the 2012  Armchair Critic Chardonnay from Tumbarumba – not bad for a man whose best winemaking years are still ahead of him.

 Other Hunter trophy winners:

Tamburlaine won two trophies – for Best Organic Wine and for Best Other Red Variety – both for their Reserve Malbec, although in both cases the fruit came from Orange.