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Bruce Tyrrell has been honoured as the 2025 NSW Legend of the Vine at the Sydney Royal Wine Show Awards Lunch, attended by 230 guests. The award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry.
“Bruce Tyrrell is a true Legend of the Vine,” said Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) national chair Lynda Schenk.
“He has been a driving force for the Hunter Valley for decades, particularly for Semillon.”
This year’s lunch was a sold-out celebration, announcing trophy winners from the Sydney Royal Wine Show alongside the presentation of the NSW Legend of the Vine Award. It was also the first time the award had been jointly hosted by Wine Communicators of Australia in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
Tyrrell is the thirteenth recipient of the NSW Legend of the Vine Award. Markus Patz, WCA NSW Chapter co-chair, highlighted Tyrrell’s commitment to demonstrating the age-worthiness of Hunter Valley Semillon and championing the use of screw caps. He also praised Tyrrell’s community spirit, recalling his support for a neighbouring winemaker affected by tragedy.
“The other important thing for me is my family and remaining as a family business,” said Tyrrell. “Make your industry stronger, make it better, and make sure you’ve got people coming through who can carry it on.”
The Legend of the Vine Award was first introduced in NSW in 2012 and has since expanded to Victoria and South Australia, with annual awards now held in each state. State Chapters nominate individuals from their region, and the final recipient is selected by the WCA National Board.
Dining and Cooking