Australia conquers wine awards in North and South America

Over the past week, Australian wine has won major accolades at global awards based in both North and South America. This marks a continuation of what has already been an extremely successful year for Australian wine, including a second-place trophy count at the International Wine Challenge in June and an equal first-place at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in October.

This week’s results include the 2022 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay being named the world’s best white wine and the second best wine overall on the prestigious VINOUS Top 100 Wines of 2024 list.

“I value this international recognition immensely,” said Rick Kinzbrunner, Giaconda's Winemaker.

“To be awarded a perfect 100 points by Erin Larkin in The Wine Advocate for our 2021 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay was an incredible coup. Then came our listing in La Place, and now being named the number two wine in the world - we are absolutely blown away."

To achieve the recognition, the Beechworth Chardonnay was first awarded a perfect 100 point score by VINOUS’ Australian Editor Angus Hughson before being evaluated by the publication’s international team. This included VINOUS’ founder Antonio Galloni, a former critic for Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.

According to Hughson, “what is most exciting about this achievement is that the final decision was not driven locally and was completely out of my hands. It was determined by the entire Vinous team, whose recognition of the quality of this wine confirms that it undoubtedly stands tall among the greatest white wines in the world, particularly from the 2022 vintage. It also dramatically showcases what can be achieved with Chardonnay in Australia’s leading terroirs for the variety, as international interest in exceptional Australian Chardonnay is on the rise."

Also occurring this week, Taylors further extended its 2024 trophy count after St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 claimed three major accolades, including the top honour of Best in Show, at the Catad’Or World Wine Awards in Chile.

“We’re completely floored to hear that one of our finest cabernets received three trophies in Chile this weekend,” said Mitchell Taylor, Managing Director.

“The St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon showcases some of the finest vineyard sites on our family’s estate, so it’s an incredible honour to have the wine recognised at such a significant competition.”

The Catad’Or World Wine Awards are considered one of Latin America’s most important international wine competiitons alongside the VINUS International Wine & Spirits Competition, at which Taylors’ Jaraman Shiraz 2022 was recently crowned Champion Red Wine.

In a recent interview with Drinks Trade, Mitchell Taylor explained that major international awards such as those from Chile and Argentina are extremely beneficial when vying for market share in China.

“The Argentine awards were great because they're a major global competition,” he said.

“In China, it does help if you're winning at the local competitions that they understand, but they also have respect for the major competitions in Europe and also the major competitions in international cities like London, New York, Tokyo and Rio.”

In addition to white and red wine wins, Australia has also achieved numerous notable accolades for sparking and fortified wines throughout 2024. This includes House of Arras’ E.J. Carr Late Disgorged 2006 being awarded the Chairman’s Trophy at the 11th-annual Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate 10 Year Old Grand Tawny winning Australia’s top accolade at the 2024 Japan Wine Challenge, and Endeavour Group own-label Cat Amongst the Pigeons’ Fat Cat Tawny being named Wine of the Year at the 2024 London Wine Competition.

According to Mitchell Taylor, “the award caps off an equally challenging and exciting year for the Australian wine industry on the global stage. Australian winemakers and their wines continue to dominate international competitions, and it’s an honour for our wines to be recognised by such a prestigious group of professionals.”

In addition to his various product wins, House of Arras’ Chief Winemaker Ed Carr made history by becoming the IWC’s second non-Champagne Sparkling Winemaker of the Year in the award’s 40 years.

“I think it's a huge endorsement of what we've done across the last 30 years,” Ed Carr told Drinks Trade.

“Starting with Arras in Tasmania in 1995 and then where it is now, we've developed a range of wines that represent Tasmania and represent Arras as a style, but always our aim was to have global quality. We're not mimicking: we want to show what Tasmania can do and what our winemaking team can do.”

The global recognition comes at a crucial time for the Australian wine sector, which is competing against global competitors in key markets such as China against the backdrop of a global oversupply of red wine and red wine grapes.

“On the challenge front, we’ve finally returned to trading our wines in China following four years of excruciating tariffs, and we’re hopeful that renewed optimism in the economy will help bring excitement and growth back into the wine sector," said Mitchell Taylor.

"Going off of the success of our winemakers both here and overseas, now’s the time to enjoy a glass of Australian wine."