The NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show at the 2019 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards has been won by Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley).
It's the second year running that Mount Pleasant has taken out Best in Show at the Awards.
Commenting on the winning wines, Chair of Judges Dave Brookes said: “The line-up of trophy winning wines has codified what those in the know already knew to be true: that NSW offers the consumer a sensational range of wine styles that play to the strengths and diversity of the state’s wine regions.
"NSW enviable purple-patch of great vintages and world class winemaking offers wine drinkers outstanding wines that span the spectrum from precise focussed Sparkling wines through to cellar-worthy Shiraz and all bases in between. Many other Australian wine states should rightly be envious of New South Wales diversity and quality.
"Orange continued to impress with fine Sparkling, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines and as expected Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz from the Hunter Valley was excellent across the board. The alternative varieties continued to wow the judges and in 2019, the NSW Wine Awards introduced an 'innovation' class to highlight 'lo-fi' wines that provide delicious drinking and introduce consumers to new styles of wine that skirt the edges of the traditional fine wine narrative. We are delighted to announce that two gold medals and a trophy were awarded in the new class, again showcasing the diversity available in NSW.”
And the trophy winners at the NSW Wine Awards are …
Australia Post Trophy for Best Riesling - Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Semillon - McGuigan 2018 Shortlist Semillon (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Gris/Grigio - De Bortoli 2019 La Bossa Pinot Grigio (Riverina)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Chardonnay - First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter)
CSU Trophy for Best Other White Varieties - Tulloch Wines 2019 Cellar Door Release Vermentino (Orange)
Australia Post Trophy for Best Light Red - Margan 2019 Rose and Bramble (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Noir - Philip Shaw Wines 2018 No.08 Pinot Noir (Orange)
Finlaysons Trophy for Best Shiraz - Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Riedel Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon - McWilliam’s Wines 2018 660 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Hilltops)
MultiColor Trophy for Best Other Red Varieties - Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2018 Reserve Malbec (Orange)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Red Blend - Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2018 Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet (Hunter Valley)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Organic Wine - Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW Wine 1828 Innovation Trophy - Gilbert 2019 Pet Nat Riesling (Orange)
Chair of Judges Trophy for Best Hilltops Wine - Ballinaclash 2018 Ned Touriga (Hilltops)
Canon Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine - Printhie Wines NV Swift Rose #3 (Orange)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Sweet Wine - Cookoothama 2016 Darlington Point Botrytis Semillon (Riverina)
Orora Trophy for Best Dry White - First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
CCL Trophy for Best Dry Red - Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Casella wins Graham Gregory Award
Minister Michael Johnsen, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Member for Upper Hunter, also presented the Graham Gregory Award for services to the NSW wine industry at the NSW Wine Awards lunch.
The Minister explained that the recipient of this year’s award (the 2018 Graham Gregory Award, as the award is retrospective) came from a family that arrived in Australia from Italy in the 1950s, planting their first vines in NSW in 1969. When he mentioned that their main wine brand was created in 2001 and by 2013 ‘Yellow Tail’ had sold more than 1 billion bottles, a very surprised John Casella realised he was talking about him.
Today, John leads Casella Family Brands, Australia’s largest family-owned wine company, exporting nearly 12 million cases of wine each year to over 50 countries.
Upon accepting the award John said: “It is an honour to accept this award and join other distinguished individuals in our industry. It is also beautifully timed as this year our family celebrates 50 years in the wine business.
"When I first started studying winemaking at Charles Sturt University, I remember being disappointed that I wasn’t based in one of the big wine regions of the time, like the Barossa or McLaren Vale, but now I realise that the best thing my father ever did was settle in Griffith, NSW!”
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