Krondorf Wins Halliday Grenache Challenge

Krondorf Wines 2020 Founders View Barossa Grenache has won the fifth annual James Halliday Grenache Challenge.

The Krondorf brand is owned by Pinnacle Drinks.

The Challenge invited producers from all Australian wine regions to participate, encouraging an honest gauge of Australia’s winemaking form and to catch the styles and movements developing across the landscape.

McLaren Vale Wine Show chair of judges Tony Love was impressed with the diversity of Grenache expression.

“The 2021 James Halliday Grenache Challenge was a showcase of one of the country’s most loved wine varieties at the height of its powers,” Tony says.

“A highlight of the Challenge was to witness the diversity of Grenache expression, from juicy, lighter, easy drinking styles to bolder and more robust iterations.

“All variations are, of course, legitimate, while the finest of the entries created plenty of enthusiastic interest from all three panels of judges.

“After a rigorous day of assessment, the winner emerged from the highest quality selection of finalists after displaying attractive varietal aromatic characters with a sense of power, yet elegantly controlled and balanced.

“A superb example of South Australian Grenache.”

The Challenge received a record 146 Grenache entries across a diverse range of Australian winegrowing regions.

James Halliday AM highlights McLaren Vale and the Barossa as champion Grenache producing regions.

“Grenache has come in from the cold in no uncertain fashion,” he says.

“One statistic speaks louder than words. In 2010 the average price per tonne was $575; this year (2021) it averaged $1,256 per tonne.

“Its geographic spread has also increased, but two regions dominate: the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in a multitude of styles.

“It’s also exciting to see 2021 wines starting to appear, with more to come.”

Gold medals…

Pinnacle Drinks	Krondorf 2020 Founders View Barossa Grenache	97
Stephen Pannell Wines	S.C. Pannell 2019 Old McDonald Grenache	96
Silent Noise Wines	Silent Noise Wines 2021 MF Grenache	96
Pernod Ricard Winemakers	Orlando 2019 Cellar 13 Grenache	95
Langmeil Winery	Langmeil Winery 2019 Rough Diamond Grenache	95
Z Wine Pty Ltd	Z Wine 2021 August Old Vine Basket Pressed Grenache	95
Whistler Wines	Whistler Wines 2021 Get In My Belly Grenache	95
Longline Wines	Longline Wines 2019 Albright Grenache	95
Chalk Hill Wines	Alpha Crucis 2020 Old Vine Grenache	95
Hedonist Wines	Hedonist 2020 Ecology Grenache	95
Gemtree Wines	Gemtree Wines 2020 Small Batch Egg Grenache	95
Berg Herring	Berg Herring 2020 Grenache	95
Ministry of Clouds	Ministry of Clouds 2020 Grenache	95
Treasury Wine Estates	Pepperjack 2020 Grenache	95
Main & Cherry	Main & Cherry 2021 Grenache	95