Three Australian labels vie for Best Wine of the World

Three Australian wines are front runners in The Best Wine of the World 2019 competition (BWW).

BWW is described as "by far the toughest wine competition on this planet".

"Unlike any other industry competition, only 1% of the wines involved will be awarded," it notes. 

The BWW competition features 18,477 wines, which have received 2,354,989 votes so far from 416,000 wine professionals and wine lovers from 116 countries during the three month voting period.

The most voted wines of the main categories are currently: 

Most voted Red Wine of the World: Winner: Hill of Grace 2013, Henschke, Australia 
Most voted White Wine of the World: Winner: Montrachet 2009, Ramonet, France 
Most voted Champagne of the World: Winner: Dom Pérignon 2008, France 
Most voted Sparkling Wine of the World: Winner: Original Sparkling Shiraz Seppelt, Australia 
Most voted Fortified Wine of the World: Winner: Graham's Vintage Port 2016, Portugal 
Most voted Rosé Wine of the World: Winner: Boat Shed Nebbiolo Rosé, Longview, Australia 
Most voted Sweet Wine of the World: Winner: Château d' Yquem 2011, France

The final results of voting will be announced at the end of February. Fingers crossed for the Aussies!

World's top wine critics named

In BWW Competition 2018, the Best Wine Critic of the World title was awarded to Jancis Robinson MW.

"I feel extremely honoured to have been recognised by so many wine professionals around the world, particularly when the competition is so extremely strong," Robinson said. "And I'm thrilled to see that my JancisRobinson.com colleague Julia Harding MW is also highly valued. I think all of us who write about wine know that, however enviable our work seems, it is increasingly demanding, even if always rewarding. Here's to wine! And of course, to the organisers of this poll."

Among the ranks of Top 20 Wine Critics for 2018 was Andrew Caillard MW. Caillard is one of Australia's leading authorities on wine.

A wine marketing graduate of Roseworthy Agricultural College, he passed the Master of Wine examination (winning the prestigious Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in wine tasting) in 1993.

In 1989 he founded Langton's Sydney and played a key role in establishing Langton's as Australia's leading wine auction house.

Since 2009, Caillard has worked with Endeavour Drinks Group as well as being a columnist and tasting panellist for Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine. He chairs Shanghai's Wine 100 competition, judges at the Japan Wine Challenge and has participated in various shows including the Adelaide Wine Show's provenance prize. Caillard also holds the rare distinction of being a 'Baron of the Barossa'.

Top 20 Best Wine Critics of the World are:

1. Jancis Robinson MW

2. Jeannie Cho Lee MW

3. James Suckling

4. Antonio Galloni

5. Neal Martin

6. Michel Bettane

7. Allen Meadows

8. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

9. Tim Atkin MW

10. Richard Juhlin

11. Andrew Caillard MW

12. Eric Asimov

13. Julia Harding MW

14. Markus Del Monego MW

15. René Gabriel

16. Jeff Leve

17. José Peñin

18. Christer Byklum

19. Jeremy Oliver

20. Robert Parker