Celebrating Our Success: From Champion Winery to Viticulturist of the Year
Celebrating Our Success: From Champion Winery to Viticulturist of the Year
"This is such a great achievement for Steve personally. We're all proud as punch for him. He not only thinks deeply about how and why he does things but he's a great teacher with that rare ability to bring people together and for them to become part of a greater viticultural journey." -Dave Bicknell, Chief Winemaker at Oakridge
đ Celebrating a Season of Excellence: Our Team Shines at Major Awards
We are incredibly proud to share a series of remarkable achievements that highlight the talent and dedication of our entire teamâfrom our vineyards to our winery.
Champion Victorian Winery… Again!
We were thrilled to be named Champion Victorian Winery at the prestigious Melbourne Royal Wine Awards on November 7th. This marks the third time in the last four years our winery has earned this title, a true testament to our team’s consistent pursuit of excellence.
This win was supported by outstanding results for our Chardonnays, which were awarded three Gold medals:
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97 Points | Gold: 864 Henk Aqueduct Block Chardonnay 2023
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95 Points | Gold: Vineyard Series Henk Chardonnay 2024
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95 Points | Gold: Vineyard Series Willowlake Chardonnay 2024
đż Celebrating Our Own: Steve Faulkner Named Viticulturist of the Year
The success continues in the vineyard. We are bursting with pride to congratulate our Senior Viticulturist, Steve Faulkner, who was named ASVO 2025 Viticulturist of the Year at the Awards for Excellence in Adelaide.
For over a decade, Steve has been at the forefront of biological farming and chemical reduction. But his leadership goes further. He’s also a leading voice in biosecurity, developing practical blueprints for managing complex issues like phylloxeraâprotecting our vines and the entire Yarra Valley.â
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This spirit of generosity is core to who Steve is. Heâs always been the first to share his knowledge, founding @Viticulture_Australia, serving as a board member for Wine Yarra Valley, and mentoring for Wine Communicators of Australia.â
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Reflecting on what started as “a casual job that has turned into 21 vintages,” Steve puts this community focus perfectly: “We all learn from someone. Itâs really important to remember those people… So letâs do more of that.”â
These awards, from our winery-wide championship to the personal recognition of our viticulturist, are a powerful reminder of the passion and expertise that defines our team.
A huge congratulations to Steve and everyone involved in these outstanding successes!
