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$27 bottle of wine conquers all in Sydney

By Friday 22 August 2025No Comments

A $27 bottle of wine – Abbey Vale 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon – has won the Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show at the Sydney Royal Wine Show.

An amazing result considering more than 1,500 wines were assessed for 103 gold medals.

“Australian wineries are producing world-class wines for every budget, and the Abbey Vale Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon is a great reflection of that,” says chair of judges Mike De Iuliis.

“The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show results were a testament to the incredible variety of outstanding wines that are on offer to consumers right now, whether you are looking for something to drink tonight or that special bottle that will reward you after years in the cellar.

“Just look for that Sydney Royal medal and you’ll know that what you are getting is the best of the best and has undergone rigorous assessment.”

The Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White was won by Evans & Tate 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay, with this year marking the third consecutive year that an Evans & Tate Chardonnay has claimed this award.

Chardonnay has maintained its reputation for excellence, emerging as the standout varietal in 2025, earning more gold medals than any other varietal.

South Australia emerged victorious as the state with the highest gold medal count, narrowly beating Western Australia.

However, Margaret River stole the crown as the most decorated individual wine region, taking home almost half of the trophies awarded this year.

“It was great to see the major awards being spread across the different Australian regions, showcasing the depth and diversity of wine quality throughout the country,” De Iuliis says.

“The healthy competition between these areas continues to elevate standards and drive excellence.

“Some regions continue to demonstrate their strength in key varietals. The Hunter Valley’s renowned Semillons were once again a standout in their category, while South Australia dominated Grenache with an impressive eight gold medals.

“A particularly exciting area of this year’s show were the Red Blend classes, where we’re seeing some fantastic new blends being made with purpose and precision.

“It’s a dynamic area of the Australian wine market at the moment, and we’re seeing a rise of new and innovative players.”

Byrne Farm from Orange won the Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy for Best Shiraz Dominant Blend – in just its second year of entering the competition. The winery began its wine journey in 2020 with the planting of its first vineyard.

De Bortoli Wines, Jim Barry Wines and Stella Bella each earned trophies for two different wines. De Bortoli impressed in the Other Red Varietal and Other Red Blend categories with its Sangiovese and Tempranillo Touriga, while Stella Bella claimed top honours for Best White Blend and Best Rosé.

Jim Barry Wines won Best Shiraz while its Riesling won Best Value Wine.

Evans & Tate 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay, Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon and Abbey Vale 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon each won three trophies.

“We were extremely happy with the standard of wines showcased this year,” De Iuliis says.

“We awarded 1067 medals, which means that approximately two-thirds of entries received a medal of some colour.

“It’s a strong reflection of the industry’s momentum as we look ahead to next year and the milestone celebration of 200 years of the Sydney Royal Wine Show in 2026.”

The public will have the opportunity to taste wines from the Sydney Royal Wine Show, including medal and trophy winners, at the Grape, Grain & Graze Festival at Sydney Showground on Saturday 20 September.

Trophy Winners

Douglas Lamb Perpetual Trophy
Best Riesling
Devil’s Corner 2023 Resolution Riesling

McCarthy Perpetual Trophy
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Mandoon Estate 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

David Clarke Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Semillon
Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon

RAS of NSW Annual Prize
Best Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio
Sidewood Estate 2025 Pinot Gris

AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy
Best Chardonnay
Evans & Tate 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay

Bert Bear Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Other White Varietal
Lenton Brae 2024 In Good Hands Chenin Blanc

Liquorland Perpetual Trophy
Best White Blend
Stella Bella 2023 Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Hanaminno Perpetual Trophy
Best Sweet White
Berton Vineyards 2020 Reserve Botrytis Semillon

RAS of NSW Annual Prize
Best Current Vintage White
Brokenwood 2025 Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon

Dr Henry John Lindeman Memorial Perpetual Prize
Best Mature White
Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon

Leslie Kemeny Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Rosé
Stella Bella 2025 Otro Vino Rosé

Geoffrey Crundall Perpetual Trophy
Best Pinot Noir
Yabby Lake 2024 Tasmania SV Pinot Noir

George Mackey Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Grenache
Willunga 100 2024 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

Drinks Association Perennial Trophy
Best Shiraz
Jim Barry 2022 Barry And Sons Shiraz

Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy
Best Shiraz Dominant Blend
Byrne Farm 2024 Shiraz Pinot Noir

Dan Murphy’s Perennial Trophy
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Abbey Vale 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon

Jones, Steains and Waller Perpetual Trophy
Best Cabernet Dominant Blend
Deep Woods Estate 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Wine Communicators of Australia Perpetual Trophy
Best Other Red Varietal
De Bortoli 2024 One Line Sangiovese

John Swann Perpetual Trophy
Best Other Red Blend
De Bortoli 2024 Ancient Soils Tempranillo Touriga

Rudy Komon Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Mature Red
Not awarded

Thorp Annual Trophy
Best Sparkling White or Rosé
Printhie 2016 Swift Vintage

Interconnect Perpetual Trophy
Best Sparkling Red
Not awarded

JCM Fornachon Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Fortified
Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat

RAS of NSW Annual Prize
Best Alcohol-Free Wine
Not awarded

Dan Murphy’s Value Perennial Trophy
Best Value White, Rosé or Red
Jim Barry Wines 2025 Barry And Sons Riesling

NSW Department of Primary Industries James Busby Perpetual Trophy
Best NSW Wine
Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon

Restaurant and Catering Industry Association Perpetual Trophy 
Best Small Producer Wine
Willunga 100 2024 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

Len Evans Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Single Vineyard Wine
Evans & Tate 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay

Albert Chan Memorial Prize
Best White
Evans & Tate 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay

Dr Gilbert Phillips Memorial Perpetual Trophy
Best Red
Abbey Vale 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon

Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy
Best Wine of Show
Abbey Vale 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

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