Alumni breaks glass ceiling of Hunter Valley winemaking
University of Newcastle graduate Liz Jackson is the first woman to be named Winemaker of the Year at the prestigious Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards.
Liz Jackson is chief winemaker at First Creek Wines at Pokolbin. She was awarded the Hunter Valley Wine Society’s top award at an industry event this week.
Graduating from the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Science program in 1999, with a major in Biological Science, Ms Jackson began her career in winemaking as a lab technician with Hunter Valley vignerons, Brokenwood Wines.
In 2010, a Semillon crafted by Ms Jackson was awarded Wine of the Year at the NSW Wine Awards. She was recognised in 2006 as the Dux of Len Evans Tutorial, which is regarded by wine critique James Halliday as the most exclusive wine school in the world.