The Noble One 2016 Semillion won the NSW Wine Industry Association Trophy for Best Sweet Wine.

It was the only Riverina wine to win a trophy at the recent state awards in Sydney.

The Noble One has a long history of excellence, having claimed 150 trophies and 465 gold medals since it was first produced 36 years ago.

As well as acknowledging the state’s best wines, former Griffith resident Stuart McGrath-Kerr was presented with the NSW DPI’s Graham Gregory Award.

The award recognises outstanding contributions to the state’s wine industry.

Mr McGrath-Kerr first became involved in the state’s wine industry after becoming the Wine Grapes Marketing Board executive officer in 1987. 

“This award recognises areas such as leadership, research and development, winemaking, education and market development, many of the attributes Stuart has shown since becoming the Executive Officer of the Wine Grapes Marketing Board in 1987,” NSW DPI plant systems director Alison Bowman said.

“Stuart oversaw the Association move from being a regional body, to one that promotes the 14 NSW wine regions focusing on marketing activities such as the development of the ‘NSW Wine’ brand, the NSW Wine Awards and the NSW Wine Regions Auction,” Dr Bowman said.

In 1997, Mr McGrath-Kerr started working with the NSW Wine Industry Association before retiring in 2017.

As well as the state association, Mr McGrath-Kerr ran the Riverina Wine Show from 1988 to 2016 and was the secretary for the Riverina Winemakers Association from 2000.

Mr McGrath-Kerr said he was honoured to receive the award.

“I’m very pleased to receive it, it was never in my thinking that that was what I was there for,” he said.

“I was proud to play a part but it was the work of many others over many years which has led the organisation to where it is today.”