At the Judge's Table Shaping Tomorrow's Wine Industry
- Liane Morris
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
When Hunter Valley winemaker Mike De Iuliis was named Chair of Judges for the 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show, it marked a significant milestone for his own career and also for the Hunter wine industry.
As the owner and winemaker at De Iuliis Wines in Pokolbin, Mike has built a reputation for bold innovation, unwavering quality, and a deep commitment to sustainability. Now, with this prestigious appointment, he’s not just making standout wines; he’s helping shape the future of Australian wine. If you’re visiting the Hunter, make sure De Iuliis is on your list. Their cellar door offers more than just a tasting; it’s your front-row seat to the craft, character, and passion of one of Australia’s top winemakers.
Appointed in August last year, Mike now follows in the footsteps of some of the most respected figures in the industry, including outgoing Chair Sarah Crowe, whose three-year tenure helped modernise and elevate the show.
“The opportunity to be Chair of Judges at the 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show is a massive responsibility, and one I do not take lightly,” said Mike.
“Sarah has done a fantastic job of guiding and protecting the integrity of the competition. She’s left big shoes to fill.”
It’s a role that feels like a natural progression for someone whose life and career have long been steeped in the culture, craft, and community of Australian wine. And yet, for Mike, it’s about more than the prestige. It’s about paying it forward.
“To give back to an industry that’s been so wonderful to me is something I’m really excited about,” he said.
“Not many people get that opportunity. I’m also looking forward to helping guide the next generation of wine judges. It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was one of them.”
The Sydney Royal Wine Show is one of Australia’s most prestigious wine competitions, known for setting national benchmarks and highlighting both excellence and innovation. It provides producers with valuable feedback, helps guide consumer choices, and plays a key role in developing future wine judges. As Chair, Mike now steps into a highly influential leadership role at the heart of Australia’s wine industry.
The De Iuliis (pronounced dee-you-lee-iss) story begins well before Mike was born—in the mountains of Abruzzi, Italy, where his greatgrandfather Donato and grandfather Celeste (known as Charlie) once rode horseback to collect barrels of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. After migrating to Australia in the 1950s and settling at the Greta Migrant Camp, the family eventually laid down roots in the Hunter.
Mike’s parents, Anna and Joss De Iuliis, purchased a 20-hectare cattle property on Lovedale Road in 1987, preparing the soils for three years before their first vintage in 1997. With a Bachelor of Science and postgraduate Oenology studies under his belt, Mike officially joined the business and began shaping the winery’s future in earnest. He completed the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2004 and quickly built a reputation for excellence, not only as a winemaker but as a respected wine judge at shows across Australia and internationally.
Today, Mike is recognised not only for his technical expertise but also for his thoughtful leadership and vision. He’s been part of the Sydney Royal Panel since 2017 and has served as both Chair and Panel Chair at numerous shows around the country.
“My vision for the next three years is to see the ongoing success of the show system, not only at Sydney Royal but nationally. These shows are a vital platform for giving feedback to producers, helping the trade, and giving consumers a snapshot of the most exciting wines being made in Australia right now.”
Back home in Pokolbin, the De Iuliis brand is synonymous with premium Hunter Valley wines, particularly Shiraz, for which they’ve earned a string of awards and a cult following.
The family now operates three vineyards: the original Lovedale Road property (planted with Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho, Merlot, and Shiraz, plus Touriga and Montepulciano), the historic Steven Vineyard across from Hunter Valley Gardens (with vines dating back to 1968), and a third on Talga Road in Lovedale, dedicated exclusively to Shiraz.
The wines reflect Mike’s philosophy of balance, purity, and expression of place. But they also reflect his willingness to innovate. De Iuliis was one of the first in the region to plant alternative varieties, such as Touriga, Pecorino, and Montepulciano, grapes better suited to the region’s increasingly warm Mediterranean climate.
“We’ve chosen these varieties because they cope better with heat and require fewer chemical inputs,” Mike said.
“That makes them not only more resilient but more sustainable.”
This spirit of innovation and forward-thinking is central to the winery’s success. De Iuliis is in the top 2% of Australian wineries, and in the past year alone, the winery was named a Top 100 Winery by James Halliday and listed among the Real Review Top Wineries of Australia. “The 2025 edition of the James Halliday Wine Companion saw us maintain a rating of five underlined red stars, which has been a goal of mine for several years now. We’ve been a five-star brand for almost 19 years, and five red stars for 11 of those.”
The list of accolades and awards for the De Iuliis wines is truly impressive. At the 2021 Hunter Valley Wine Show, De Iuliis picked up six trophies for three wines, including the Doug Seabrook Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show and the John Lewis Trophy for Best Museum Red. And in 2023, they once again took home Best Red Wine of Show, the third year in a row.
“I was especially proud of the Limited Release Shiraz range,” Mike said.
“It’s a culmination of years of vineyard work and winemaking evolution.”
Crafted from the finest blocks across their top vineyards – Steven, Talga Road, and Lovedale Road – this wine is a masterclass in blending and restraint. The result is a classic medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz, elevated by an added layer of exceptional depth, drive, and polish. The wine's pedigree is undeniable, having garnered widespread critical acclaim. Esteemed critics such as Gary Walsh (The Wine Front), Ned Goodwin MW (Halliday Wine Companion), and Stuart Knox (The Real Review) have consistently awarded this vintage a remarkable 95 points.
To celebrate their mastery of Shiraz, De Iuliis Wines has recently introduced the Limited Release Shiraz Experience. This guided tasting showcases some of their finest vintages, including the 2019, 2016, 2014 and 2009 Limited Release Shiraz. For $55 per person, the tasting includes four 50ml Limited Release Shiraz.
Available at the cellar door, this rare opportunity offers a deeper look into the winery’s flagship varietal and the craftsmanship behind it. As Mike puts it, “It’s the wines that have defined us, and now we get to share that story in a really personal and immersive way.”
Alongside this premium experience, De Iuliis offers a full tasting range including the Made by Mike Tasting featuring eight wines over 45 minutes at $15 per person; the DeLuxe Winery Tour Experience that runs over two hours and includes an eight wine tasting and local cheese selection for $65 and especially for families – the Hunter Valley Family Fun Pass which includes wine tasting and kids snack pack, lunch, cheese, fudge tasting and gelato, and a family pass to Hunter Valley Wildlife Park all for just $365 for two adults and two kids (aged 3 to 18).
De Iuliis has become known for its warm, knowledgeable staff and relaxed atmosphere. That reputation was solidified when they were named Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year in 2022, an unexpected but well-deserved honour.
“We didn’t expect to win,” said Mike.
“It was my team who put us forward. They passed all the mystery shopper visits, and they absolutely smashed it. That was really special because it reflected the strength of the people I have around me.”
As he prepares to lead one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious wine shows later this month, Mike remains humble and grounded. Whether he’s talking about the judging process, experimenting with a new grape, or sharing a glass with guests at the cellar door, his enthusiasm never wavers.
“Winning at Sydney Royal resonates loudly across the industry,” he said.
“But beyond the trophies, I hope we’re inspiring people to explore great Australian wines and support producers who are doing great things.”
For a winemaker whose story began with his ancestors and barrels of Montepulciano in a small Italian town, who now finds himself at the helm of one of Australia’s most influential wine competitions, it’s a journey that honours his family’s legacy whilst supporting a vibrant future for the industry and the passionate people who work within it. One imagines that the ghosts of Mike’s great-grandfather, Donato, and grandfather, Celeste, who trekked on horseback across the Abruzzi mountains with their barrels of wine, would be immensely proud of their modern-day De Iuliis counterpart.
And for wine lovers visiting the Hunter, there’s never been a better time to experience De Iuliis Wines. To learn more or book a Limited Release Shiraz Experience, visit www.dewine.com.au.
