Top SA drops shine at Sydney Royal Wine Show
More than one third of the award-winning wines at the 2023 Sydney Royal Wine Show were South Australian, with local labels taking out the titles for best Grenache, Riesling, Pinot Gris and more. See the list of winners below
South Australian winemakers, including Sevenhill Cellars, Skillogallee and Serafino Wines, picked up 11 of the 30 awards up for grabs at the awards last night.
Established in 1826, the Sydney Royal Wine Show is one of the longest running and most prestigious in the country and attracts over 2,200 entries from 350 producers across Australia.
Wines across SA’s many regions took out titles, from the Clare Valley to McLaren Vale, the Barossa to Currency Creek and the Adelaide Hills.
Jim Barry Wines was the most decorated of the South Aussies and managed to nab two titles: Best Riesling and Best Cabernet Dominant Blend.
Currency Creek label George’s Folly Wines picked up the International Guest Judge Annual Prize for its “Pigs Might Fly” Monetpulciano, while Landaire was awarded the Best Pinot Gris for its 2022 drop.
Sevenhill Cellars’ 2021 Sevenhill Open Range Grenache was named Best Grenache, with winemaker Will Shields saying that being part of the vintner’s legacy was a “privilege”.
“This prestigious trophy reaffirms our commitment to expressing the exceptional vineyards that define Sevenhill,” he said.
Sevenhill’s viticulturist Craig Richards attributed the win to “an unwavering commitment to sustainability”.
“We’ve cultivated a practice that minimises our environmental footprint while enhancing soil health and natural balance,” he said.
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The two major awards went to interstate vintners, with Victoria’s Montalto taking out Best Red for its 2022 Pinot Noir, while West Australia’s Evans & Tate won Best Wine of Show for its 2021 Chardonnay.
The winning SA wines at the 2023 Royal Sydney Wine Show:
- Best Riesling: 2022 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling, Clare Valley SA – Jim Barry Wines
- Best Pinot Gris: 2022 Landaire Pinot Gris, Padthaway SA – Landaire
- Best Other White Varietal: 2022 Macclesfield Gruner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills SA – Longview Vineyard
- Best Grenache: 2021 Sevenhill Open Range Grenache, Clare Valley SA – Sevenhill Cellars
- Best Shiraz Dominant Blend: 2022 Dune The Empty Quarter, McLaren Vale SA – Coriole
- Best Cabernet Sauvignon: 2021 Skillogalee Trevarrick Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley SA – Skillogallee
- Best Cabernet Dominant Blend: 2021 The Farm Cabernet Malbec, Clare Valley SA – Jim Barry Wines
- Best Other Red Varietal: 2022 Serafino Bellissimo Sangiovese, McLaren Vale SA – Serafino Wines
- Best Other Red Blend: 2022 St Hugo Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Barossa Valley SA – St Hugo
- Best Mature Red: 2018 Yalumba Steeple Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA – Yalumba Wines
- Interantional Guest Judge Annual Prize: 2021 George’s Folly “Pigs Might Fly” Monetpulciano/Nero D’Avola, Currency Creek SA – George’s Folly Wines
