After a five-year reign held by Syrah from New Zealand, Australia has won the crown of International Shiraz Trophy at the International Wine Challenge this year for its Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019. It is the first time in almost a decade that Australia has won this trophy. 

"While Syrah and Shiraz share the same DNA, there is a distinction in the styles produced from this noble varietal. It’s great to see Australia, who arguably put Shiraz on the world stage, taking the trophy this year," explained Sam Caporn MW, Co-Chair.  

Australia’s top performing red this year came from Kilikanoon Wines which received the Australian Red Trophy for its GSM, Baudinet 2019 and Arras E.J Carr Late Disgorged Vintage 2005 from House of Arras was awarded the Australian Sparkling Trophy.

The Arras Vintage Rose 2008 was also awarded a gold medal as Tasmania continues to consolidate its position as one of Australia’s leading producers of sparkling wine. Every Australian Sparkling Trophy awarded by the International Wine Challenge in the last 10 years has been won by a Tasmanian producer. 

Other trophies were awarded to:

  • Treasury Wine Estates for Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2019 and Penfolds Yatttarna Chardonnay 2019
  • Capel Vale Wines took the Mount Barker Riesling trophy
  • Gatt Wines took the Eden Valley Trophy for Australian Riesling
  • Dawson James Chardonnay 2018 and Pinot Noir 2018
  • Houghton CW Ferguson Cabernet Malbec 2019 and
  • the Cellar Reserve Grand Liqueur Muscat NV from Morris Wines.

The trophies

International Wine Challenge describes itself as the world’s most influential, impartial and rigorously judged wine competition. Medals are awarded to wine-producing countries across the globe from Spain and South Africa to Russia and Kazakhstan. Thousands of wines from over 50 countries were judged by a panel of international wine experts in a rigorous two-week blind tasting, run under Covid safe measures, in London, this April.  

In its 38th year, the International Wine Challenge is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential wine competition. The International Wine Challenge assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards. Trophies are awarded to the very best wines in each category. The International Wine Challenge is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and the medals displayed on winning bottles offer a trusted guarantee of quality.  

The full list of medal and trophy winners in the 2021 International Wine Challenge can be viewed here. 

Share the content