In 2025, Hunter Valley winemaker Declan McCaffrey represented Australia at the World Tasting Championship in France — one of the most prestigious blind tasting competitions on the planet. Selected as one of just four Australians, Declan and Team Australia competed against 40 international teams, tasting 12 wines completely blind and identifying grape variety, origin, region, and vintage with no labels or hints.
The result? A bronze medal and third place in the world — on the podium in France, the spiritual home of fine wine.