Penfolds wins Best Wine of Show with 2020 Bin A Chardonnay while Paracombe and Golding Wines take home Best Producer trophies.

The winners in the 2021 Adelaide Hills Wine Show were announced on Thursday, demonstrating the region’s remarkable diversity, and how the pioneering and boundary-pushing philosophy of its winemakers is coming to fruition. 

‘Wine of Show’ went to Penfolds 2020 Bin A Chardonnay, showing how the hero grape of the region is still punching above its weight in terms of global reputation. James Halliday awarded the wine 98 points and Andrew Caillard MW awarded it 97.

Winemaker Kym Schroeter describes it as having "all the great characters of grand cru Chardonnay, but it's very much from South Australia".

Chair of Judges Toby Barlow commented, “Chardonnay often takes home the top trophy, and this wine is a great example of Adelaide Hills regional strength in this varietal. A world class wine of great complexity and texture.”

The Chardonnay was competing for the number one spot with the Best Red Wine, which for the first year ever went to an Italian alternative varietal - the Protero 2019 Nebbiolo. This quietly achieving winery was acquired by Steve and Fiona Pannell, of SC Pannell in December 2019.

Mr Barlow said, “In select vineyard sites and climates the Adelaide Hills can undoubtedly make great Nebbiolo, but to date it hasn’t received the attention that it deserves. It’s exciting to see more producers planting Nebbiolo, which hasn’t always been appreciated in shows given its lack of bright red colour, savoury flavour profile and robust tannins.”

The Adelaide Hills Wine Show first took place in 1997 and recognises and rewards the region’s winemakers and grape-growers for the quality of their wines in over 20 categories. The judging team of 16 industry experts reviewed around 630 different wines and winners were announced at a luncheon for members of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, held at the National Wine Centre on 2 December. 

The Best Producer (fewer than 100 tonnes) went to Golding Wines. Having put their first vintage in bottle with grapes from the family vineyard back in 2002, nearly two decades on, they are producing a portfolio of cool climate traditional Hills' varieties, as well as those less typical in Australia, such as Gamay and Savagnin. 

Best Producer (over 100 tonnes) this year went to Paracombe Wines, which was launched in 1983 when Kathy and Paul Drogemuller bought an old dairy farm following the Ash Wednesday bushfires. It now produces a broad portfolio of wines from aromatic whites through to rich, well balanced reds.

Other notable wins include Best Other White going to Golding Wines 2021 Single Vineyard Series La Francesa Savagnin. The show also saw some of the less familiar producers receive recognition, with Q1908 2021 The Clubhouse Sauvignon Blanc taking home the trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc and Small Victories Wine Co 2021 Pinot Gris winning the best Pinot Grigio/ Gris category. Best Sparkling went to Mordrelle Wines for its 2015 Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay, which also took home the trophy for Best Single Vineyard wine.

“This year Sauvignon Blanc really shone, as foreseen by the fantastic conditions of the 2021 vintage,” Mr Barlow said.

“It’s great to see so many producers investing significant resources in the grape and upping their game. There’s been some clever, intricate winemaking which results in Sauvignon Blancs that are layered, and show how good this variety can be, going above and beyond a commercially appealing fruit-forward wine.    

“I was also really impressed with the ‘other white’ class, seeing great examples of wines such as Pecorino, Arneis and Savagnin farmed and made skilfully with respect for expression. The Hills is also a regional front-runner in Australian Grüner Veltliner with a stand-alone varietal class in 2021. Pleasingly we are also seeing different styles of wine gaining prominence, such as 2021 young drinkable reds. The continuation of the Hills pioneering wine movement has led to the emergence of new styles in the show, such as a number of younger, approachable red wines that are great served chilled and offer a totally different drinking experience.”

Full trophy list

  • Best Sparkling - Mordrelle Wines 2015 Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay           
  • Best Riesling - The Lost Watch 2021 Riesling       
  • Best Sauvignon Blanc - Q1908 2021 The Clubhouse Sauvignon Blanc            
  • Best Pinot Gris/Grigio - Small Victories Wine Co 2021 Pinot Gris            
  • Best Grüner Veltliner - Hahndorf Hill 2021 Gru Grüner Veltliner  
  • Best Chardonnay - Penfolds 2020 Bin A Chardonnay 
  • Best Other White - Golding 2021 Single Vineyard Series La Francesa Savagnin 
  • Best Rosé - Wicks Estate 2021 Pinot Rosé     
  • Best Pinot Noir - Sidewood Estate 2020 Pinot Noir 
  • Best Shiraz - The Lane Vineyard 2019 Heritage Shiraz Viognier        
  • Best Other Red - Protero 2019 Nebbiolo      
  • Best Tempranillo - Mt Bera 2018 'Running with the Cows' Tempranillo     
  • Best Cabernet or Blend - Bendbrook Wines 2018 SL Cabernet Sauvignon      
  • Best Museum Wine - Pike and Joyce 2016 MT Sparkling Chardonnay, Pinot Noir       
  • Best Producer <100T - Golding Wines      
  • Best Producer >100T - Paracombe Wines     
  • Best Single Vineyard - Mordrelle Wines 2015 Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay          
  • Best Wine of Provenance - Deviation Road 2018, 2015, 2011 Loftia Vintage Brut
  • Best White Wine - Penfolds 2020 Bin A Chardonnay 
  • Best Red Wine - Protero 2019 Nebbiolo 
  • Best Wine of Show - Penfolds 2020 Bin A Chardonnay

Award Results 

  • AWAC Scholarship - Chris Parsons, Revenir
  • AWAC Scholarship - Turon White, The Lane Vineyard
  • Negociants Committee Award - Kate Laurie, Deviation Road (pictured below)
  • Chanticleer Award for Best Cellar Door Person - Agnes Wyszomirska
  • The Lane Vineyard Chanticleer Award for Best Cellar Door - Simon Tolley Wines

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