Over the three days of judging, the 19-strong panel judged 722 wines, with 50 gold, 75 silver, 225 bronze and 21 trophies being awarded to the winning wine producers.

With the Hunter Valley experiencing one of the best vintages on record in 2017, followed by an exceptional 2018 vintage, the week's judging was a special experience for the panel throughout the tasting, including this year's international judge, America's foremost expert on Australian and New Zealand wines, Chuck Hayward.

He said it was fantastic to be invited to judge this year's Hunter Valley Wine Show.

'This show is very special as it affords judges the opportunity to taste through many vintages of Semillon, the region's signature varietal,' Chuck said.

'Once again, it was amazing to witness the grapes ability to maintain such freshness as it ages.'

'It is truly unique in the world of wine.'

'Nevertheless, it was Shiraz, Australia's most popular grape, that shone. The backstory was the great weather conditions in 2017 and 2018 that saw the grapes mature perfectly. The wines showed very well and it was rewarding to see so many gold medals awarded to these tasty wines.'

Chair of Judges Sarah Crowe said it had been an extremely rewarding week, with Gold Medals awarded to 19 different exhibitors an indication of how strong the competition was at the top end.

She said the 2019 Semillon class showed much promise, despite it still being early in the life of these wines.

'The two-year and older Semillon class (Vintage 2017 to 2009) were stunning, the wines showing great purity of fruit and a youthfulness that seems to defy their age,' she said.

'The museum Semillon class is what every judge wishes for when they come to the Hunter Valley Wine Show and it didn't disappoint. The intensity of fruit coupled with bottle aged development was rewarded. There were also stunning examples of 2009, 2006 and 2005 showing how remarkable a wine style Hunter Semillon is.'

Sarah said the Chardonnay was following industry trends in style, coupling precision wine making coupled with high quality vineyards.

'The judges debated around what is a regional Hunter style verses modern Australian Chardonnay, both legitimate and delicious styles and it's great to see diversity across the region,' she said.

'One of the more recent exciting classes is Red Blends and Other Red Varietals which continue to throw up some lovely wines. Both juicy early drinking styles and more serious structural wines.'

These classes are growing in relevance to both producers and consumers with these lighter styles gaining listings on wine lists and vineyard plantings of newer varietals now with some vine age.

'Once again the Shiraz from the 2018 vintage had the judges all excited. Polished and precise wines with a lovely core of fruit were really delicious. Following on from last year's results, entries of the 2017 vintage Shiraz were still holding well. Skilled and respectful wine making bringing out the best of the vineyard.'

Hunter Valley Wine Show President David Flynn said the show not only showcased the quality region's excellent wines, but was also a valuable tool for winemakers to gain a valuable industry benchmark.

'Our winemakers have once again demonstrated the excellence the Hunter Valley is so highly regarded for,' he said.

The Hunter Valley Wine Show is considered one of Australia's oldest wine shows and has been held continuously since 1974.

The annual regional wine show aims to assess and showcase the quality of wines being produced by the Hunter Valley, with medalists selected through a rigorous testing process.

2019 CCL Hunter Valley Wine Show Trophy Winners.

Marshall - Flannery Trophy Best Current - Semillon Class 1:

Tinklers Wines 2019 School Block Semillon (Entry 7-1)

George Wyndham Memorial Trophy Best Current and One-Year-Old Chardonnay Classes 2 & 10:

Tinklers Wines 2018 Poppys Chardonnay (Entry 7-10)

J.Y. (Jay) Tulloch Trophy Best Verdelho Class 3:

Two Rivers Wines 2018 Hidden Hive Verdelho (Entry 21-3)

Henry John Lindeman Memorial Trophy Best Two-Year-Old and Older Chardonnay Class 17 Trophy Sponsor - Jurds Real Estate:

First Creek Wines 2017 Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay (Entry 16-17)

Alexander Munro Memorial Trophy Best Current and One-Year-Old Shiraz Classes 7 & 13 Trophy Sponsor - Rover Coaches Roll of Honour Sponsor - Meerea Park Wines:

Mount Pleasant 2018 Rosehill Shiraz (Entry 39-13)

Ed Jouault Memorial Trophy Best One-Year-Old Dry Semillon Class 9:

Australian Vintage Ltd McGuigan 2018 Shortlist Semillon (Entry 42-9)

Elliott Family Trophy Best Two-Year-Old Shiraz Class 18 Roll of Honour Sponsor - Elliott Family:

Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Maurice O'Shea Shiraz (Entry 12-18)

Best Other Red Trophy Classes 7, 8,14,15,19 & 20:

De Iuliis Wines 2017 LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga (Entry 1-20)

McGuigan Family Trophy Best Two-Year-Old and older Semillon Class 16 Roll of Honour Sponsor - McGuigan Family:

Australian Vintage Ltd McGuigan 2013 Bin 9000 Semillon (Entry 80-16)

Doug Galbraith Memorial Trophy Best Sweet White Wine Class 21:

Margan Family Wines 2016 Botrytis Semillon (Entry 5-21)

John Lewis Newcastle Herald Trophy Best Museum Red Wine Class 25:

Tyrrell's Vineyards Pty Ltd 2007 Vat 9 Shiraz (Entry 14-25)

Graham Gregory Memorial Trophy Best Museum White Class 24:

Agnew Wines Audrey Wilkinson 2010 The Ridge Semillon (Entry 10-24)

Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy Best Shiraz Roll of Honour Sponsor - Tulloch Wines Trophy Sponsor - Hahn Corporation:

Mount Pleasant 2018 Rosehill Shiraz (Entry 39-13)

Maurice O'Shea Memorial Trophy Best Semillon Roll of Honour Sponsor - Mount Pleasant Wines:

Australian Vintage Ltd McGuigan 2013 Bin 9000 Semillon (Entry 80-16)

Murray Tyrrell Chardonnay Trophy Best Chardonnay Roll of Honour Sponsor - Tyrrell's Vineyards Pty Ltd & Trophy Sponsor - Multi- Color Global Label Solutions:

Tinklers Wines 2018 Poppys Chardonnay (Entry 7-10)

Drayton Family Trophy Best Single Vineyard Red Wine Classes 7, 8, 13, 14,15,18,19 & 20 Roll of Honour Sponsor - Drayton's Family Wines Trophy Sponsor - Seguin Moreau:

Mount Pleasant 2018 Rosehill Shiraz (Entry 39-13)

Tyrrell Family Trophy Best Single Vineyard White Wine Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 &17 Roll of Honour Sponsor - Tyrrell's Vineyards Pty:

Tinklers Wines 2018 Poppys Chardonnay (Entry 7-10)

Len Evans Trophy Best Named Vineyard Wine:

Mount Pleasant 2018 Rosehill Shiraz (Entry 39-13)

Petrie-Drinan Trophy Best White Wine of the Show Sponsor - CCL Label:

Australian Vintage Ltd McGuigan 2013 Bin 9000 Semillon (Entry 80-16)

Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy Best Red Wine of the Show Class 21 & 32 are ineligible for judging in this category Sponsor - CCL Label Puncheon supplied by Mercurey Australia:

Mount Pleasant 2018 Rosehill Shiraz (Entry 39-13)

Iain Riggs Wine of Provenance Provenance Classes 26 & 27:

Tyrrell's Vineyards Pty Ltd Old Patch Shiraz 2007, 2014, 2018