Rob Mack is 2018's Young Gun of Wine

McLaren Vale winery Aphelion's chief winemaker Rob Mack has been crowned Australia’s 2018 Young Gun of Wine.

“I could not be happier right now, this is a win for us but it’s also a reflection on the melting pot of creativity in McLaren Vale," Mack said. "To be picked at the top of this list of truly awesome winemakers is a testament to our family’s winemaking values.”

The 2018 Young Gun of Wine winners were announced yesterday at MONA, in Tasmania.

Mack, 36, was chosen from a field of 12 finalists. He's a former Sydney­sider who left the corporate world to pursue his passion for wine and prefers his fruit to be hand-picked.

“I like using stems to bring in more flavour, machine-picking eliminates that option,” he told The Australian. “What I saw potential for in the variety was to just dial things back a bit, (and) create a fresher, more vibrant, more approachable style. Vibrancy is my goal when creating wines.”

Chief judge Nick Stock said Mack stood out among a strong field.

“His poetic suite of grenache wines show a set of very unique expressions that are as fascinating as they are delicious,” he noted. “A thoughtful rendition that shows the right grape grown in the right place and delivered with insightful, respectful and attentive winemaking.”

“It looks like the keyword from 2018 is ‘approachability’," added YGOW founder Rory Kent. "Winemakers are breaking ground with new varieties, and exploring new techniques, all in the search of more delicious wines made from our climate and for our palates.”  

The People's Choice Award, decided by the public at two tasting events in Melbourne and Sydney, was given to Melanie Chester from Sutton Grange Winery in Bendigo, Victoria.

“We’re so excited to receive the YGOW People’s Choice award for 2018," she said. "Our wines are grown and made to be shared and enjoyed with the people you love. So to know that people enjoy our wines enough to buy a bottle and share it with the people they love is really satisfying.”

The Winemaker's Choice, voted on by the Final 12 winemakers, was taken out by Gilli and Paul Lipscombe from Sailor Seeks Horse in the Huon Valley, Tasmania.

“It’s awesome," they said. "Your peers voting for your wines – nothing beats it. There’s so much that goes into planting a vineyard, growing great fruit and making something that gets people excited that to get a pat on the back from people you respect is amazing.”

Best New Act went to Jonathan Hughes from Mewstone in Tasmania; while the Danger Zone award for the most adventurous wine went to the 2017 Lark Hill Gruner Veltliner from Canberra; and the Wineslinger award, decided upon by more than 100 sommeliers, winemakers and industry leaders, was taken out by City Wine Shop in Melbourne.

“We’re over the moon and blown away to have received the inaugural Wineslinger award. It means a lot to have been selected by our industry peers. Thanks to all winemakers for making delicious wines, to our customers for supporting us and to all our staff, both front and back of house. We are very proud and humbled,” said Isabelle Agnes, Manager of City Wine Shop.

The People's Choice Wineslinger, as voted on by the Australian public, was awarded to Harvest Newrybar. 

“Bars and restaurants are the places we so often discover a wine for the first time – and venues are now offering more fun, interest and surprise to the whole experience for wine lovers. There’s never been a better time to get into wine! From the Top 50 lists, to the trophy winners, these are products and places to seek out,” said Kent.