Australian Vintage has won nine medals and the Lighter Alcohol Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2023.

Producers awarded gold medals at the IWSC are put forward to contest for the overall trophy in each category, with Australian Vintage's 2022 Tempus Two Lighten Up Pinot Noir triumphing in the Lighter Alcohol category with a score of 96 points.

The tasting note said the winning Pinot Noir is "an excellent food wine that is bright with red Pinot fruit. Black cherry and stewed fruit notes on the palate with liquorice tannins and a good texture and density. Very light considering the ABV, this a great example of low ABV Pinot Noir."

Jamie Saint, Chief Winemaker at Australian Vintage, said the company would continue to invest in their NoLo offering, launching both the Not Guilty alcohol-free and re-launching the Tempus Two Lighten Up ranges earlier this year.

"For decades our team has worked to perfect our NoLo alcohol program and we're thrilled to see the expertise recognised on the biggest global stage for this category.

"NoLo has been a growing trend we've seen accelerate over the past two years, which we will continue to invest in. Our Tempus Two, McGuigan Zero and recently launched Not Guilty are the perfect drop for consumers looking to cut back their alcohol intake without compromising on taste – as the reviews testify," he said.

The IWSC’s Low & No Awards were established in 2019 and are it's biggest recent success, with entries growing 225 per cent from 2021 to 2022 for the 1.2 per cent and lower category. A clear demonstration of the increasing relevance of this category.

The nine Australian Vintage wines which received high scores at the 2023 IWSC include:

  • 2022 Tempus Two Lighten Up Pinot Noir – Trophy, 96 points
  • 2022 Tempus Two Lighten Up Prosecco – Silver, 91 points
  • McGuigan Zero Shiraz NV (0.5%) – Silver, 94 points
  • McGuigan Zero Sparkling NV (0.5%) – Silver, 92 points
  • McGuigan Zero Chardonnay NV (0.05%) – Silver, 92 points
  • McGuigan Zero Sauvignon Blanc NV (0.5%) – Silver, 91 points
  • McGuigan Zero Rose NV (0.5%) – Silver, 91 points
  • Not Guilty Pinot Grigio NV – Gold, 95 points
  • Not Guilty Rose NV – Silver, 92 points

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