Australian wines rank top at China awards

Australian wines were awarded the most medals of any nation at the China Wine & Spirits Awards, with a combined total of 330 Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. This total is nearly double that of the second-ranked nation, Spain, with 169 combined medals.

Trophies were awarded to Australian wine producers for:

Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year: 2018 Casella 1919 Cabernet Sauvignon, Casella Family Wines

Margaret River Wine of the Year: 2019 My Left Hook 1st Round Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Grape Expectations Vintners

McLaren Vale Wine of the Year: 2020 Blood Brother Republic McLaren Vale Shiraz, Pinnacle Drinks

Barossa Valley Wine of the Year: 2019 Peter Lehmann Portrait Cabernet Sauvignon, Casella Family Wines

Clare Valley Wine of the Year: 2019 Reserve Parcel Cabernet Sauvignon, Wakefield Taylors Family Wines

Coonawarra Wine of the Year: 2016 Brand's Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon, Casella Family Wines

Shiraz of the Year: 2020 Zilzie Victoria Shiraz

South Australia Wine of the Year: The Old Red River Gum Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, Direct Wines Source Australia

Now in its 20th year, the annual competition held in Hong Kong aims to discover the wines and spirits that will be most successful in the Chinese market. One hundred judges from across the region’s wine and spirits industry, including top buyers, importers, distributors, retailers and sommeliers, judge wines from 35 countries in a blind tasting to select the top winners in each category.

Third-generation South Australian winemaker Mitchell Taylor from Taylors Wines says the results show that despite politics, China’s wine industry leaders continue to rank Australia’s wines amongst the best in the world.

“We are thrilled to see our Reserve Parcel Cabernet Sauvignon awarded as the best in the region by the distinguished team of judges at the China Wine & Spirits Awards. Since the founding of our family winery in 1969, we have had a sincere fondness for the cabernet sauvignon variety and it’s a testament to our winemaking team to see one of our top value wines awarded on the global stage,” Taylor said.

“It’s clear from these award results that there is a strong appetite amongst Chinese consumers for Australia’s top-quality wines. While the ongoing trade dispute prevents us from selling our wines in this market, it’s exciting to see that the country’s leading palates still recognise the quality of Australia’s wines.”

In addition to the major regional trophy, Taylors Wines claimed three Double Gold medals and six Gold Medals at the international competition. Casella Family Brands also fared well with the three above mentioned top trophies as well as fifteen double gold medals, ten gold medals and six silver medals.

Casella Family brands said the wins were a 'fantastic achievement for a local winery at such an internationally acclaimed wine show.'

"Our winemaking teams are honoured to have received some incredible results and this year's China Wine and Spirits Awards," David Joeky, Head Senior Winemaker at Casella Family Brands said.

"We were also particularly delighted to have been awarded three gold medals for our Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky," Mr Joeky said.

In 2020, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed steep tariffs of over 200 per cent on Australia’s bottled wines over a five year period. The tariffs had an immediate impact on Australian wine exports, with a reported 10 per cent drop in total exports reported in the 2020-2021 results.