A Pinot Noir has won the most coveted award at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, announced this afternoon at the Adelaide Showground.
The Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2020 won the Max Schubert AM Trophy for most outstanding red wine in show - a rare achievement for the variety.
Wine committee chair Greg Follett said the Royal Adelaide Wine Show prided itself on rewarding a diversity of wine styles.
"It is great to see so many regions from around the country featuring amongst the trophy winners, especially a Tasmanian Pinot Noir winning the Max Schubert Trophy, a category which is normally dominated by Shiraz," he said.
"This is the first time I can recall a Pinot Noir winning this prestigious award."
Barossa region wines dominated the trophy list in other classes, as did wines from Margaret River.
Margaret River wineries claimed 29 of the gold medals, while Barossa wines picked up 26.
The best South Australian white of the show went to the Leo Buring 2021 Clare Valley riesling, which was also the riesling class winner, while the best local red was claimed by the Purple Hands Wines Planta Circa Ancestor Vine grenache 2019.
The prestigious Gramp, Hardy, Hill Smith Prize for national wine of provenance was won by Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay (2020, 2012 and 2009 vintages), made from grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills.
The 2021 Royal Adelaide Wine Show attracted 2756 entries from 350 Australian wineries, with judging taking place during the past week.
The panel of 35 judges engaged in intense discussion, scrutiny and deliberation to ensure that the best wines shone through.
Judges chair Kym Milne said entries were received from six states and more than 30 regions, while 196 wines from 111 different exhibitors received gold medals representing 7.4 per cent of total entries.
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"Shiraz was once again the most represented variety in the competition, with almost half of the 600-plus entries coming from the 2019 vintage," he said.
"Across the variety a total of 46 gold medals were awarded, with 21 going to the 2019 vintage.
"The 2021 Riesling class was also outstanding with many judges commenting on the number of very high quality wines that were presented to them."
The Royal Adelaide spirits top award, the TAFE SA Trophy for champion spirit of show, was won by The Hills Distillery with their 78 Degrees Muscat Finish Whiskey, which also won the Master Cask Trophy for champion whisky.
Full list of winners:
- The Governor's trophy for best SA white wine in show: Leo Buring Pty Ltd - Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2021
- The Governor's trophy for best SA red wine of show: Purple Hands Wines - Purple Hands Wines Planta Circa Ancestor Vine Grenache 2019
- The tafeSA Trophy for champion spirit of show: The Hills Distillery - 78 Degrees Muscat Finish Whiskey
- The George Fairbrother memorial trophy for most outstanding white wine in show: Cherubino - Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
- Max Schubert AM trophy for most outstanding red wine in show: Bay of Fires Wines - Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2020
- The Gramp, Hardy, Hill Smith prize for national wine of provenance: Penfolds Wines - Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay 2020, 2012, 2009
- Australian Wine Research Institute commercial services trophy for best riesling in show: Leo Buring - Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2021
- The Segun Moreau trophy for best chardonnay in show: Cherubino - Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
- Finlaysons tophy for best semillon in show: Tyrrells Vineyards - Vat 1 Semillon 2013
- BDO trophy for best dry white blend in show: Langmeil Winery - Three Gardens VMR 2020
- Arkaba Cellars trophy for best sauvignon blanc in show: Anvers Wines - Razorback Road Sauvignon Blance 2021
- Programmed Property Services trophy for best other varietal white in show: Pike Wines - Luccio Fiano 2021
- Braud Australia trophy for best sweet white table wine in show: De Bortoli Wines - Deen DeBortoli Botrytis Semillion 2017
- Piper Alderman trophy for best rose in show: Turkey Flat Vineyards - Turkey Flat Rose 2021
- Hurtle & Norman Walker trophy for best sparkling wine in show: Heemskerk Wines - Heemskerk Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sparkling 2014
- Lallemand trophy for best pinot noir in show: Bay for Fires Wines - Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2020
- Tilbrook Rasheed trophy for best grenache in show: Purple Hands Wines - Purple Hands Wines Planta Circa Ancestor Vine Grenache 2019
- Radoux Australia trophy for best other red blend in show: Windance Estate - Windance Estate Cabernet Merlot 2020
- Wine Communicators of Australia, SA Chapter, for best shiraz in show: Shingleback - Unedited 2018 McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018
- Professor AJ Perkins trophy for best cabernet sauvignon in show: Devils Lair Pty Ltd - Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
- Karl Seppelt AO trophy for best other varietal red in show: Bleasdale Vineyards - Generations Malbec 2020
- Orora Closures trophy for best shiraz 2018 vintage and older: Shingleback - Unedited 2018 McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018
- Doreau Australia trophy for best shiraz 2019 vintage and younger: Alkoomi Wines - Alkoomi White Label Shiraz 2019
- Dr Ray Beckwith OAM memorial trophy for best traditional Australian red blend in show: Jacobs Creek - Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2018
- John Fornachon memorial trophy for best apera, topaque, muscat or sweet white in show: McWilliams Wine Group Ltd - Show Reserve 25 Year Old Muscat
- Indaily trophy for best Australian vintage, tawny or ruby in show: Penfolds Wines - Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny
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