Wineries Nugan Estate and De Bortoli Wines were among the winners at the 2019 NSW Wine Awards in Sydney, which saw 19 awards handed out to the top drops from across the state.

Nugan Estate's 2016 Cookoothama Limited Release Darlington Point Botrytis Semillon claimed a major award in the Best Sweet Wine trophy, ending a two-year De Bortoli winning streak.

De Bortoli senior winemaker John Coughlan said there was no disappointment in handing the Sweet Wine trophy over to another Riverina winery.

"So many producers are making great examples of this style across the Riverina and in NSW," he said.

"The competition is hot and you really have to make a great example to get the accolade.

"We were in the running... and were just pipped by another excellent Riverina botrytis semillon from a cracking vintage."

However, it was not all bad news for De Bortoli, with the winery claiming the Best Pinot Gris/Grigio award for their 2019 La Bossa Pinot Grigio.

De Bortoli winemaker Matteo Lapi said the accolade was a great one to win.

"For a 2019 wine to have an immediate impact is wonderful," Mr Lapi said.

"To think we have the best pinot grigio/gris in the state is quite humbling for the winemaking team."

It wasn't just the region's wines that picked up accolades at the event, with Casella Family Brands' managing director John Casella honoured for his services to the state wine industry with the Graham Gregory Award.

Mr Casella said the honour was "beautifully timed" as 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Casella family entering the wine industry.

"It is an honour to accept this award and join other distinguished individuals in our industry," Mr Casella said.

Mr Casella is the third person associated with the Riverina wine industry in the past five years to claim the award, with Stuart McGrath-Kerr claiming the award in 2018 and Bill Calabria receiving the accolade in 2015.

The Hunter Valley region was the big winner at this year's awards, with eight trophies heading back to the area.

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