The 2019 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards have been revealed with the Hunter Valley taking out the top awards
The 2019 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards top trophy results were announced at an exclusive Awards Presentation at the ICC Sydney on Friday 18th October. 19 Trophies were presented to the state’s best wines, including the ultimate Trophy - the ‘NSW Governor’s 2019 Best in Show’ - presented by the new Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC.
As well as the Governor of NSW, the room was full of VIP guests and the Awards valued supporters, including the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries, Destination NSW, CCL Label, Orora Beverage, Nexia Australia, Riedel, Australia Post, Multi-Color, Charles Sturt University, Finlaysons Lawyers and Canon Australia, alongside winemakers and wine industry professionals from across NSW’s 16 wine regions.
Guest enjoyed a delicious lunch and a large selection of this year’s award-winning wines, but obviously the main attraction was hearing which wines would claim the 2019 Trophies. Commenting on the winning wines, Chair of Judges Dave Brookes said, “The line-up of trophy winning wines has codified what those in the know already knew to be true: that NSW offers the consumer a sensational range of wine styles that play to the strengths and diversity of the state’s wine regions. New South Wales enviable purple-patch of great vintages and world class winemaking offers wine drinkers outstanding wines that span the spectrum from precise focussed Sparkling wines through to cellar-worthy Shiraz and all bases in between. Many other Australian wine states should rightly be envious of New South Wales diversity and quality.
Orange continued to impress with fine Sparkling, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines and as expected Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz from the Hunter Valley was excellent across the board. The alternative varieties continued to wow the judges and in 2019, the NSW Wine Awards introduced an 'innovation' class to highlight 'lo-fi' wines that provide delicious drinking and introduce consumers to new styles of wine that skirt the edges of the traditional fine wine narrative. We are delighted to announce that two gold medals and a trophy were awarded in the new class, again showcasing the diversity available in NSW.”
NSW Wine Award Winners:
Australia Post Trophy for Best Riesling ~ Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Semillon ~ McGuigan 2018 Shortlist Semillon (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Gris/Grigio ~ De Bortoli 2019 La Bossa Pinot Grigio (Riverina)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Chardonnay ~ First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter)
CSU Trophy for Best Other White Varieties ~ Tulloch Wines 2019 Cellar Door Release Vermentino (Orange)
Australia Post Trophy for Best Light Red ~ Margan 2019 Rose and Bramble (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Noir ~ Philip Shaw Wines 2018 No.08 Pinot Noir (Orange)
Finlaysons Trophy for Best Shiraz ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Riedel Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon ~ McWilliam’s Wines 2018 660 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Hilltops)
MultiColor Trophy for Best Other Red Varieties ~ Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2018 Reserve Malbec (Orange)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Red Blend ~ Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2018 Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet (Hunter Valley)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Organic Wine ~ Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW Wine 1828 Innovation Trophy ~ Gilbert 2019 Pet Nat Riesling (Orange)
Chair of Judges Trophy for Best Hilltops Wine ~ Ballinaclash 2018 Ned Touriga (Hilltops)
Canon Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine ~ Printhie Wines NV Swift Rose #3 (Orange)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Sweet Wine ~ Cookoothama 2016 Darlington Point Botrytis Semillon (Riverina)
Orora Trophy for Best Dry White ~ First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
CCL Trophy for Best Dry Red ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Of these last 4 main Trophies, the judges had to select 1 wine to receive the ultimate title of ‘2019 NSW Wine of the Year’ and the NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show. The trophy itself is very unique; an exquisite silver platter dating back to the 1930s, beautifully engraved with grape vines and historically used to serve drinks at Government House, reflecting the great history of wine in our State. Her Excellency presented the beautiful NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show to a wine described by judges as stellar. Dave Brookes added. “The quality and pedigree of this producers wine range was on full display again in this year’s Wine Awards. While pure-of-fruit and delicious today, this wine will also continue to improve for many years with careful cellaring and is a wine that is bound to delight fans of the medium-bodied Shiraz that the Hunter Valley is justly famous for.”
NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley).