Only a fortnight after celebrating their runner up success at this year's Inland Tourism Awards, Graham and Jan Kerr discovered they had achieved the coveted status of a four and a half glass rating from Australia's leading wine expert, James Halliday.

The 2007 edition of Halliday's annual wine companion listed the vineyard and winery for the first time, and their 2005 Semillon achieved a rare rating of 92 out of 100 from the expert.

"We've never had our wines in before, and now, for the first time, God has spoken - well at least, that's what it feels like to us," Mrs Kerr said.

'James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion is Australia's No.1 guide to wineries and wines in this country - it is the most comprehensive guide from Australia's most respected wine writer.

"Tom's Waterhole rated very well with him, and we were one of the few Cowra region vineyards even mentioned in the latest edition."

Within two hours of jumping on the internet and letting their mailing list customers know the good news, the 2005 Semillon that really caught Halliday's eye was sold out.

That's the measure of the respect people have for Halliday's ratings.

"We thought we had enough for two years supply, but now there are no cases left, it was that popular," said Mrs Kerr.

The semillon was not the only wine to catch Halliday's eye.

Their Dry White Blend, 2005 Chardonnay, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, their 2003 Shiraz and Cabernet Shiraz Merlot Blend also ranked between 80 and 90.

The news comes just as the vineyard and winery prepares for the arrival of a first for the region, a travelling wine bottling plant.

Based at Cudal, it's a complete plant packed in a semi trailer that will arrive in Canowindra and process wines for Toms Waterhole, Hamilton's Bluff, Gardners Ground and a local grower producing his own wine for the first time.

Coming to the vineyard instead sending the wine elsewhere for bottling means less travel and less hassle for the Kerrs, and being able to pass on the benefits to neighbouring vineyards.

"It's amazing how technology in the industry is developing," Ms Kerr said.

"Being able to bottle wine, all from the back of a truck is just incredible."

Tom's Waterhole is on Longs Corner Rd, about five kilometres north of Canowindra. Contact Graham and Jan Kerr on 6344 1819.

Visitors are welcome to come and see the bottling plant in action on Tuesday 22nd or Wednesday 23rd.