A Hunter Valley winery is in celebration mode after being named as a finalist for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Annual President’s Medal Award.
The 19th edition of the event recognises six food and beverage producers who have proven that “doing things differently” can lead to world-class results.
One of those is Brokenwood Wines.
The team has developed strategies that not only deliver results – having won a 2025 Sydney Royal Champion Medal – but give back to its community, protect the environment, and drive the entire agricultural industry forward.
From its beginnings in the 1970s as a weekend hobby for three Sydney friends, it’s blossomed into a benchmark Australian estate, focusing on small-batch vinification and minimal intervention wine making to preserve the natural characteristics of its sites.
Certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA) program, Brokenwood Wines boasts a strong commitment to regenerative farming and low-impact viticulture.
It utilises solar power generation, wastewater collection, lightweight glass and recyclable cartons, while investing in innovations such as advanced fermentation systems to allow for precise temperature management.
Brokenwood Wines won the RAS Annual Prize for Best Current Vintage White for its Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon at the 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show in July, which made it eligible for the latest accolade.
Over the coming months, it’ll undergo a rigorous judging process, alongside fellow finalists, which includes a site visit and an in-depth review of its environmental, financial and social sustainability, as well as its industry impact, succession and governance, and climate and business resilience.
The winner will then be announced on 25 May 2026.
A Brokenwood Wines spokesperson said they were delighted to be named a finalist.
“It’s an incredible honour for us,” they said.
“It recognises not only the exceptional quality of our wines, but also the dedication, innovation and long-term sustainability work that our entire team does every day.”
President’s Medal judges Simon Marnie and Kate Lorimer-Ward will conduct site tours at Brokenwood Wines, Marionette, Mandolé Orchard, Norco, Stockyard Beef and The Yoghurt Shop in January.
RAS president John Bennett offered his congratulations to the deserving finalists.
“The President’s Medal is a one-of-a-kind award in Australia and signifies the best of the best from all of our Sydney Royal food and beverage competitions held throughout the year,” he explained.
“It is the only award where you can pit a champion beef product against an almond spread or a liqueur.
“And, it does this by delving deep into a business’s viability; looking beyond the product, which has already been awarded, and assessing the business against criteria that investigate its innovation and its social, environmental, and financial operations.
“The finalists we’ve announced have proven they are running dynamic and successful businesses through their initial applications and interviews.
“Now, our judges will dig even deeper to learn more about each of them and what makes it unique.
“I have great admiration for each of the finalists selected and wish them all the very best on this exciting journey.”
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