Vintage Cellars has announced its annual Best Of Awards winners for 2019.
The Best Of Awards are now in their 10th year and were launched as a means to showcase the most impressive wines tasted by the Vintage Cellars panel.
It’s since extended to include beers and spirits from winemakers, brewers and distillers across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
The 2019 Best Of showcase features 22 separate categories, from apéritifs to XPAs, sparkling and international drops, and single malts to summer ales.
This year, the Best Of Awards also include a Winemaker, Distillery and Brewery of the Year.
Winemaker of the Year was Julian Langworthy at Deep Woods Estate in Margaret River. Brewery of the Year was Young Henry’s. Distillery of the year was South Australia’s Twenty Third Street Distillery.
Bickford’s Group Sales and Marketing Manager, Chris Illman said: “We are so proud to announce that Twenty Third Street Distillery has been awarded the Vintage Cellars 2019 Distillery of the Year. It is a great honour and a reflection of the innovation, heart and soul that goes into every bottle at Twenty Third Street Distillery.
“We opened as Twenty Third Street Distillery in September 2016 and today, we represent a 100% family owned, independent business and a staple of South Australia and the Riverland region.”
The distillery started out producing brandy, reinvigorating the category with award- winning Not Your Nanna’s Brandy. However, the distillers quickly found favour in gin – launching their Signature, Barrel Aged and Navy Strength Gins to glowing reviews.
And the winner is…
The Best Wine of the Year for 2019 went to Mr Riggs The Bolter Shiraz from McLaren Vale.
The judges said: "This wine expresses the essence of McLaren Vale. Well structured, featuring chocolate, lush berry and meaty aromas and a savoury, juicy finish."
The full list of awards
Winemaker of the Year: Julian Langworthy, Deep Woods Estate, Margaret River
Best Value Red Wine Under $25: Mr Riggs The Bolter Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2016
Best Value White Wine Under $25: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough NZ 2018
Best Premium Red Wine Over $25: Peregrine Pinot Noir, Central Otago NZ
Best Premium White Wine Over $25: Church Road McDonald Series Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay NZ 2017
Best Sparkling Wine: Ninth Island Sparkling NV, Tasmania
Best Champagne: Charles De Cazanove Tradition Brut Vintage, Champagne France 2007
Best Rosé: Lampe De Méduse Rosé Cru Classé, Provence France
Best International Red Wine: Cosme Palacio Cosecha Rioja, Rioja Spain 2016
Best International White Wine: Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay, California USA 2017
Distillery of the Year: Twenty Third Street Distillery
Best Australian Gin: Ink Gin
Best International Gin: Roku Japanese Gin
Best Vodka: Reyka Vodka
Best Malt Whisky: Ailsa Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Best Flavoured Gin: The Lakes Gin Rhubarb & Rosehip
Best Tequila: Casamigos Blanco
Best Bourbon: Maker's Mark 46
Best Irish Whiskey: Method & Madness Single Grain
Best Japanese Whisky: Hakushu
Best Sweet Apéritif: Lillet Blanc
Best Liqueur Apéritif: St Germain Elderflower
Best Bitter Apéritif: Campari Aperitivo
Best Citrus Apéritif: Ambra Limoncello
Best Premixed Cocktail: Lexington Hill Espresso Martini
Brewery of the Year: Young Henrys
Best IPA: Modus Operandi Sonic Prayer IPA
Best Pale Ale: Balter Strong Pale
Best Extra Pale Ale: ParrotDog XPA
Best Summer Ale: Kaiju Krush
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