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Hunter Valley History and First Creek

History of First Creek (The Creek) 

 
First Creek would like to start by acknowledging the traditional lands, where we are located, of the Wonnarua tribe of the Kuringai nation and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. 
 
Did you know? The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s best known wine growing regions supplying over 3% of total wine for the whole of the country. The Hunter played a critical role in elevating the commercial wine making scene in Australia to what it is today. The Hunter Valley comes with a wealth of history as one of Australia’s first commercial wine regions. 
 
Original vine cuttings and vineyards were planted around 1820, and it wasn’t until the 1930’s that the Hunter Valley started to become front and centre as a commercially widescale wine producing region.  Pokolbin, located in the heart of the Hunter, contains the highest density of vineyards in the Hunter region and is at the heart of where the Hunter Valley started as a wine region.  

First Creek, the actual creek that we name ourselves after, played a huge role in Pokolbin, supplying high quality water to many of those first vineyards in the Hunter Valley. The vineyards that we draw our grapes from today are fed by First Creek which runs from East of Wine Country drive, starting at Black Creek, and navigates to the west of Mcdonalds road just behind Pokolbin Leisure Inn.

(Image: Map of First Creek and surrounding area)

History of First Creek (The Winery) 

It all began in 1998 when our founders, Greg and Jenny Silkman, purchased a parcel of land bordered by First Creek in the Hunter Valley. Greg’s vision was to improve the quality of the Hunter’s boutique wines with a sensitive bespoke approach supported by traditional winemaking and state of the art technology. The following years saw remarkable innovation and success. Our first bottling line was purchased in 2000 and Shaun Silkman completes his first vintage in 2001.  

It wouldn’t be until 2005 that the first bottles of First Creek wine are released with Greg Silkman as Winemaker. It was around this time that our bottling line also expanded with its second line. Liz duxes the Len Evans tutorial in 2006 (described as the most exclusive wine school in the world). Two years later Liz would join the First Creek team in 2008. Fast forward through a few good years of wine and Liz wins ‘Winemaker of the year’ in 2011’s Hunter Valley legends and Wine Awards. First Creek would see many firsts in the next 10 years. Especially with awards and trophies flooding in. Including Best Hunter Valley Chardonnay. 

10/03/2022 at 11:33 AM Permalink

First Creek Awarded 6 Trophies at Hunter Valley Wine Show 2021

11/11/2021 at 1:50 PM Permalink

Verdelho 2021 Vintage Highlight

04/11/2021 at 2:47 PM Permalink

First Creek Wins Trophy for Best Semillon

20/07/2021 at 9:47 AM Permalink

First Creek x Archie Rose

Photo Credit: Archie Rose

First Creek is delighted to announce our involvement in Archie Rose Distilling Co.'s most recent project, along with our friends at Tulloch Wines. Introducing the brand new Hunter Valley Shiraz eau de vie spirit!

On 25 May 2020, Archie Rose will release the Hunter Valley Shiraz Spirit, an eau de vie distilled from salvaged smoke affected grapes as the first product in a three-part series to support the Hunter Valley wine community.

This Limited Hunter Valley Shiraz Spirit represents a new life for the many tons of smoke affected grapes that were lost in the 2020 vintage across the region.

Displaying lively notes of tropical fruits, crème fraîche and berries with just the slightest suggestion of smoke, its an adventurous spirit, unusual at first in taste but excellent with the simple addition of fresh-pressed apple juice or even Coca-Cola and freshly squeezed lime juice. Or why not try it in our twist on the Paloma—The Pokolbin, where the eau de vie effortlessly replaces tequila in a knock-out grapefruit highball.

There will be 1000 bottles of Hunter Valley Shiraz Spirit on pre-sale.

For more information and to pre-order

21/05/2020 at 10:33 AM Permalink

Official Wine Sponsor of Surfest 2019

We are proud to be an Official Wine Sponsor of this year’s Surfest.

More than an iconic surfing competition showcasing some of the world’s most talented athletes, Surfest is a fun and lively celebration of the Hunter Valley and all it has to offer.

01/02/2019 at 12:00 PM Permalink

2018 James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge - Best Hunter Valley Chardonnay

We are delighted to announce that our First Creek 2017 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay has won the James Halliday 2018 Chardonnay Challenge - Best Hunter Valley Chardonnay. Find out what Mr Halliday had to say about our wine and all the other amazing Chardonnay winners here:

https://vimeo.com/294680705 

To celebrate, we are launching this 'award-winning' wine in our Cellar Door this weekend!

To purchase the latest Chardonnay vintages:

Click Here

18/10/2018 at 6:00 PM Permalink

Senior Winemaker Rauri Donkin to attend the 2018 Len Evans Tutorial

Congratulations are in order for our Senior Winemaker, Rauri Donkin, who has been selected to attend this year’s Len Evans Tutorial.

Rauri will join 11 other scholars in what James Halliday described as “the most exclusive wine school in the world.”

The annual Tutorial runs for a week in the Hunter Valley and invites a range of Australia’s most elite wine professionals to enhance their wine knowledge and appreciation. Great, old and rare wines are opened, sampled and critiqued so scholars can learn the demands of wine show judging and quality.

05/09/2018 at 5:00 PM Permalink

Our Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay a 'CLEAR' favourite at the 2018 CCL Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show!

24/08/2018 at 3:00 PM Permalink

June 2018 Newsletter

Happy Half Year! | Read up on the latest here at First Creek.

June Newsletter »

09/07/2018 at 12:00 PM Permalink