Top Trophies 2018 NSW Wine Award | Hunter wins 2018 NSW Wine of the year
An Old Paddock produces the Best New Wine of the Year
Announcing the ‘2018 NSW Wine of the Year’
The 2018 NSW Wine Awards has just announced the main Trophy winners in this year’s Awards ceremony, unveiling the State’s best-of-the-best wines and winemakers. At the Awards, held at Government House Sydney on Friday 19 October, the Governor of New South Wales, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) welcomed a room full of winemakers from across NSW’s 14 wine regions, alongside VIP guests and the Awards valued supporters NSW Government Department of Primary Industries, CCL Label, Orora Beverage, Nexia Australia, Riedel, Australia Post, Multi-Color, Charles Sturt University, Finlaysons Lawyers, Ultra Labels and CiSRA.
His Excellency explained how this was the first ever time the Awards had been held at Government House Sydney, and it was important not only to recognise the 190th anniversary of commercial wine production in NSW but to reinforce how strongly we all need to support our wine industry. “At this event, everything you eat and drink is from NSW,” said His Excellency. He also introduced the new ‘NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show’which he donated to the Awards last year and will be given to the NSW Wine of the Year each year. The stunning silver platter, beautifully engraved with grape vines, had been used to serve drinks in residence for more than a century and reflects the great history of wine in our State. His Excellency added, “There is enough space for 96 names on the Trophy so do please keep competing!”
The Trophies were presented by His Excellency and NSW Wine Industry Association President Tom Ward, and wine made from fruit grown in Orange, Hilltops, Riverina, Canberra District, Murray Darling and the Hunter Valley, all claimed top awards – please see the full list of Trophies at the end.
It was the Printhie Wines NV Swift Cuvee Chardonnay Pinot Noir from Orange that claimed the Best Sparkling title and the De Bortoli Noble One 2016 Semillon from the Riverina was named Best Sweet Wine. The Nick O’Leary 2018 White Rocks Riesling from the Canberra District was announced the overall Best Dry White Wine and the Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shirazfrom the Hunter Valley was given the title of overall Best Dry Red.
Out of these four wines, it was the Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shirazwhich championed over the others to be awarded the ultimate title of 2018 NSW Wine of the Year and claim the ‘NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show’. Chair of Judges Dave Brookes commented on the Best in Show winner, “This is a wine of impeccable pedigree, purity and balance and one that highlights what the Hunter Valley does best – medium bodied, savoury red wines that are approachable and delicious in their youth yet have everything that is needed for a noble life in the cellar with spectacular results.”
As well as the wine awards, another great achievement was recognised on the day, when a surprised Stuart McGrath-Kerr was presented with the Graham Gregory Award for services to the NSW wine industry. Stuart has worked in the wine industry since 1987 and started working with the NSW Wine Industry Association in 1997, being pivotal in making the Association what it is today, before retiring in 2017. Upon receiving the award Stuart commented, “The Association has been going for 23 years now and I am very proud to have been involved in 20 of those years.”
List of 2018 NSW Wine Awards Trophies:
Australia Post Trophy for Best Riesling ~ Nick O’Leary 2018 White Rocks Riesling (Canberra)
Charles Sturt University Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc ~ Trentham Estate 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Murray Darling)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Semillon ~ McGuigan 2013 Bin 9000 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
Ultra Labels Trophy for Best Chardonnay ~ Two Rivers Wines 2017 Yarrawa Road Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
Australia Post Trophy for Best Light Red ~ De Iuliis Wines 2018 Sangiovese Merlot (Hunter Valley)
Finlaysons Trophy for Best Shiraz ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Riedel Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Moppity Vineyards 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Hilltops)
MultiColor Trophy for Best Other Red Varieties ~ Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Reserve Malbec (Orange)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Red Blend ~ Sweetwater Estate 2017 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon (Hunter Valley)
NSW DPI Award for Best Organic Wine ~ Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Reserve Malbec (Orange)
Chair of Judges Award for Best Southern Highlands Wine ~ Tertini 2018 Pinot Gris (Southern Highlands)
CiSRA Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine ~ Printhie Wines NV Swift Cuvee Chardonnay Pinot Noir (Orange)
NSWWIA Trophy for Best Sweet Wine ~ De Bortoli Wines Noble One 2016 Semillon (Riverina)
Orora Trophy for Best Dry White ~ Nick O’Leary 2018 White Rocks Riesling (Canberra)
CCL Trophy for Best Dry Red ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show ~ Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz (Hunter Valley)\
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