Hunter History Maker: Liz Silkman takes home Halliday’s Top Accolade
Growing up in Cessnock, the path to becoming an award-winning winemaker was not always obvious for Liz Silkman.
Born to a language teacher mother and an electrician father, a career in winemaking seemed more of an accident than a destined choice. Yet today, she is the highly respected Halliday Winemaker of the Year for 2025, the first Hunter Valley winemaker ever to be awarded this title. In addition, the boutique winery she runs with her husband, Shaun, Silkman Wines, was shortlisted by Halliday for Best Winery 2025. This accidental winemaker and the girl from Cessnock has come a long way.
Education played a pivotal role in shaping Liz’s journey. Attending Cessnock High, she had an affinity for science. This passion led to a Science degree at University of Newcastle. However, the seeds of winemaking were sown when she started in Cellar Door Sales at Pepper Tree Wines while completing her degree, followed by a job at Brokenwood in 1999.
“I got a job as a lab tech at Brokenwood,” remembers Liz.
“I was a terrible lab tech. The look and feel of the winery was far more appealing, but at the time, I didn’t feel that I could apply for assistant winemaker roles. The guys who were no more qualified than I was had no hesitation in applying.”
Breaking into the male-dominated industry was no easy feat. Women were expected to stay in the lab while men took charge in the winery. But over the years, Liz has seen a shift in gender balance within winemaking.
“There still aren’t a lot of female winemakers, but it’s definitely improved. I went to work for Lisa McGuigan at Tempus Two as Assistant Winemaker, and there was a push for female-only wine shows, which I baulked at. I don’t want my work categorised by gender.”
Liz earned a Graduate Diploma in Oenology at the University of Adelaide and worked at wineries across Australia, the US and New Zealand before returning to the Hunter as Winemaker at Tempus Two.
In 2006, Liz was awarded Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial. In 2007, she was a finalist for 'Young Winemaker of the Year', and in 2008, she was appointed to her current role, Chief Winemaker at First Creek Wines. Liz believes it’s essential for women in the industry to have mentors; for her, it was Sarah-Kate Dineen, with whom she worked at Tempus Two.
“I still call her for advice. She’s like a sister to me and I trust her implicitly in all winemaking aspects.”
Sarah-Kate also introduced Liz to the man who would be her husband, Shaun Silkman, COO of First Creek Wines, at the 2004 Hunter Valley Winemaker’s Dinner.
“She asked him if he was single, then threw us together with a bottle of Tempus Two. He came from a winemaking family and has always been part of the industry.”
Shaun never intended to work in the family business, but after completing his Bachelor of Business & Commerce Degree at the University of Newcastle, he realised he could apply his skill set to the wine industry. He became the driving force in creating what is today one of the most successful contract winemaking and bottling businesses in Australia. The couple would go on to have three children, now aged 13, 10 and six, but that didn’t slow Liz down.
“At First Creek, life balance is important. We’ve made sure that our staff can shuffle their hours; we’re flexible. We don’t have to do things the way the old boys did it.
“The challenges of juggling motherhood and winemaking are immense. Unlike male colleagues who can network over post-work drinks, I often have school pickup. It doesn’t leave time to network. It is not an easy balance, but I’m not complaining.”
The idea to start Silkman Wines came after years of contract winemaking. Their small boutique brand allowed them to craft wines that truly reflected their vision and values.
“Shaun adores Tasmanian Pinot, and we realised one day that it would be cheaper to make our own than to buy it from others! It started as a hobby.
“As a contract winemaker, the client has the last say.
"At Silkman, it’s about making wines we love without compromise. It’s about freedom."
"We make the final decision, and it’s personal. The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was when I crafted one of the best Semillons I’ve ever had, and the owner made me put Verdelho in it to make it fruitier and sweeter. I had no choice but to accept it. “
That moment underscored the need to have full control over their own label, and Silkman Wines was born in 2013. The business grew organically, driven by a genuine passion for making wine they loved and is now one of Australia’s hottest micro-brands. When awards started rolling in, they didn’t even have a website. Yet, recognition in wine shows was validation of years of hard work.
“When we started winning awards, it was a lovely thing. The judging process is educational; it’s the greatest feedback you can get. There’s no label, no history, no media, it’s just the wine in the glass so that all you’re left with is the quality of the wine.
“There have been many clients over the years who have won awards with wines I’ve crafted. Most don’t publicly acknowledge the individual winemaker because they don’t want to be tarnished with the ‘contract brush’. Even my parents drink wines that they have no idea I made.
From their very first year, Silkman Wines has continued to garner praise, with multiple wines scoring above 95 points in the Halliday Wine Companion and culminating this year when Liz was awarded the prestigious Halliday Winemaker of the Year. Their Silkman Blackberry Vineyard Semillon 2023 also received top honours, earning an exceptional 98-point score and being named Best Semillon of the Year. Despite their success, Liz and Shaun continue to juggle their roles at First Creek Wines alongside their work at Silkman Wines.
“We produce over 90,000 cases of wine a year at First Creek, so it’s a massive operation. Silkman is our personal brand. We only make tiny parcels of wine from the best fruit available. It’s not about volume; it’s about quality.
“I would never change how I make a wine because a judge didn’t like it. I would if it didn’t sell. We’re business owners. You can make wines that win awards, but there’s a place for all wines. Verdelho won’t win awards but sells well, for example.
“The Hunter is becoming warmer, and we’re picking earlier every year. A lot of the young guns are experimenting, particularly with Italian varieties. I would advise not ignoring the Hunter’s traditional varieties, of Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz, though.”
Liz sees adaptation in vineyard management, pruning techniques, and harvest timing as crucial. They carefully select fruit parcels that align with their stylistic vision, ensuring each bottle tells a story of its terroir.
“Every batch of fruit is different, and that’s what makes winemaking so exciting. You have to respect what the fruit is telling you. It’s all about finding that sweet spot for acidity and flavour.”
Beyond winemaking, life remains a careful juggle of work and family. With three kids, there is a conscious effort to find quiet moments.
“The business is all-encompassing. I don’t get to spend enough time with the kids, so when we do, we tend to enjoy the simple things. We’re a Harry Potter family who loves tending our veggie garden, reading or getting a little too heated over family board games!”
In terms of the future, Liz believes that daily operations will continue as usual. There’s a bit of pressure to design and create a Silkman Wines label and explore some export opportunities.
“It would be great to see our wines enjoyed internationally, but we want to grow in a way that keeps our values intact. We won’t be ramping up our own production as a result of these accolades. Selling out every year would be lovely, though!”
The Silkman’s ‘side hustle’ currently features two ranges of wine, a Reserve and Estate range, producing very limited volumes of Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Shiraz Pinot. There is a rumour that a third range – Silk – may soon be added. Every single wine in their current portfolio scores more than 95 out of 100 in the Halliday Wine Companion. In other words, you can’t go wrong with a wine from Silkmans!
The full range is only available through their online store and soonto-be-launched allocation club, allowing you to reserve your favourites of the new releases and award winners and have them conveniently delivered to your door.
With an unwavering belief in their personal vision and an inspirational partnership, Liz and Shaun are entirely focused on making the absolute best single vineyard wines they can, made from the most premium Hunter fruit. And that can only be a good thing for the rest of us!
For more information, visit www.silkmanwines.com.au
