Australian wines have scooped an impressive haul of trophies and medals at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London.
Described by the IWC as the “best of the best”, the 2019 trophy winners were chosen from gold medal-winning wines that have undergone further rigorous blind tasting by a panel of international wine experts.
One of the highest scoring wines in the entire competition was a wine from Tasmania – the Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 received an impressive 97 points from the judges.
It was described as "a world class modern Australian Chardonnay. Combining struck match with beautiful peach and citrus fruit. Flint and sea shell minerality and epic length.”
Winemaker Adam Wadewitz said: “I guess we always knew that the 2017 vintage was pretty special in Tasmania. The season was astonishing; late and cool, and it produced wines with that rarely seen ‘balance and intensity’ combination. And to be judged the best Australian white wine at this level is just awesome.”
South Australia gained nearly half of Australia’s Gold tally – with 33 wines scoring 95 points or more.
Bird in Hand was the region’s top producer, gaining four Gold medals – two from Adelaide Hills and two from Mount Lofty, including the Syrah 2017 which scored 96/100 points. The other 96-point Shiraz in the competition was also from Adelaide Hills – Zonte's Footstep’s Hills Are Alive 2017.
The Aussie trophy winners
Champion of Champions Shortlist: Morris Old Rare Liqueur Premium Topaque NV
Australian White Trophy: Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Australian Fortified Trophy: Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat NV
Australian Red Trophy: Bird in Hand Syrah 2017
Australian Chardonnay Trophy: Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy: Victory Point Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
NSW Chardonnay Trophy: McGuigan Cellar Select Chardonnay 2017
Tasmania Chardonnay Trophy: Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Western Australia Chardonnay Trophy: Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2017
Eden Valley Riesling Trophy: McGuigan Shortlist Riesling 2013
Hunter Valley Semillon Trophy: Tempus Two Uno Semillon 2014
Western Australia Sauvignon Semillon Trophy: Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage 2017
Cross-Regional Australian Chardonnay Trophy: Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2016
South Australian Chardonnay Trophy: Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay 2017
Rutherglen Muscat Trophy: Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat NV
Rutherglen Trophy: Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat NV
Rutherglen Topaque Trophy: Morris Classic Topaque Liqueur NV
Hilltops Shiraz Trophy: 660 Reserve Shiraz 2017 McWilliams
Adelaide Hills Shiraz Trophy: Bird in Hand Syrah 2017
South Australian Red Trophy: Bird in Hand Syrah 2017
South Australian Shiraz Trophy: Bird in Hand Syrah 2017
Clare Valley Shiraz Trophy: Taylor Made Shiraz 2017
Coonawarra Shiraz Trophy: Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz 2015
Eden Valley Shiraz Trophy: Avon Brae Moculta Eden Valley Shiraz 2017
McLaren Vale Grenache Trophy: Basket Pressed Grenache 2016 Reynella
Mount Lofty Shiraz Trophy: Bird in Hand Shiraz 2017 Bird in Hand
International Winemaker of the Year finalists announced
Five Australians are among the 17 shortlisted finalists for International Winemaker of the Year at the 2019 International Wine Challenge.
Neil McGuigan from McGuigan Wines has been shortlisted for International White Winemaker of the Year; Dylan Lee from Bird in Hand and Chris Hatcher and Steven Frost from Wolf Blass Wines have been shortlisted IWC Red Winemaker of the Year; and David Morris from Morris Wines has been shortlisted for Fortified Winemaker of the Year.
Neil McGuigan said: “This is the fourth time we have been shortlisted by the International Wine Challenge for the International White Winemaker of the Year award, winning it three times in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
“The results are a great achievement and credit to our winemaking team, which show the commitment to making quality wine with outstanding fruit purity.”
The winners will be announced at the IWC 2019 Awards Dinner, to be held on July 9, 2019, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
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