$7 Coles wine triumphs at 2018 Winestate Awards

For the second time in three years, a Coles private label wine has been named best wine under $20 at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards.

Story Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017, priced at just $7 a bottle, beat a field of 2500 wines over 12 months of blind tastings at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards in Adelaide.

A panel of expert judges made up of winemakers, wine scientists and Masters of Wine chose the wine as the top drop. 

Winestate publisher and head of the judging panel Peter Simic said the wine, from Western Australia’s Margaret River region, stood out for delivering on both quality and value.

“It was pretty close but this wine had the highest rating out of all the tastings at the lowest price, it really deserved the trophy,” he said.

“For the amazing value price of $7, plus high blind judging score, this should be everybody’s everyday drinking wine!”

In 2016, the $5 Coles’s Big & Bold Shiraz 2015 took home the Winestate trophy.

Coles acting chief executive liquor and hotels Cathi Scarce congratulated winemaker Alana Langworthy (above) from winery Nocturne Wines on her hard work. Nocturne has made exclusive wines for Coles Liquor since 2012.

“To have this recognition from some of the industry’s top wine tasters is further evidence that we’re getting it right by working with the best winemakers in Australia to deliver amazing quality wines at a great price,” she said. 

The Story Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 was described by the tasting panel as having “vibrant tropical fruit aromas including passionfruit, with notes of lime and blossom, hints of herbal tea and fresh cut grass, and a zesty and refreshing acid backbone that provides structure and length”.

“Margaret River is famous for style, but it’s not a region that people associate with value, so it’s an absolute delight to be recognised for a wine that everybody in Australia can enjoy,” said Langworthy.

“The strength of the region is that it is so diverse, which allows us to work with fruit from a range of microclimates which provide different flavours. The result is a multi-dimensional wine which has textural crunch and depth of flavour that can stand toe-to-toe with wines selling for three times the price.”

Langworthy said her family-owned winery had built a strong relationship with Coles Liquor over seven years of supplying exclusive wines.

“Making great value wine that is also recognised as being among the best in the country makes us really proud of the partnership with Coles, which has allowed us to evolve and grow our business.”

The winning wine is sold exclusively at Liquorland, First Choice Liquor and Vintage Cellars.