Fortifieds surge in popularity as local estate awarded

Owners Merilyn and Graham Hutton planted a small vineyard in 1975 to diversify their Wilyabrup beef farm, with wine sales limited to cellar door and online sales.

Today, son Bradley is vineyard manager and winemaker and has inherited his parents’ love of fortified wines, which has been rewarded with the latest win at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards in Adelaide.

Mr and Mrs Hutton attended the gala awards ceremony, where their Museum Muscat won the Fortified Wine of the Year Trophy.

“We have won many trophies over the years, but this has to be one of the most prestigious,” they said. 

Over 11,000 wines were blind tasted by industry judges for Winestate Magazine during the year, with the top 400 wines re-tasted for the Wine of the Year. 

Recognised as a pioneer of fortified styles in the region, the cellar door boasts a range of 10 fortified products and the Huttons hope the recent win supports the increased popularity of the style in recent years. 

“We were delighted to have four of our wines eligible for Wine of the Year – the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Reserve Chardonnay, N.V. Tawny Fortified and the 30-year-old N.V. Museum Muscat, which was the Trophy winner among Australia’s best fortified wines.

“This was the first time that a West Australian wine has won this particular trophy in over 30 years of the competition,” said the Huttons.

For more information visit www.gralyn.com.au