Vella Wines 2020 Harvest Widow Chardonnay won Best Wine of Show at the 2024 Adelaide Hills Wine Show, presented by Multi-Color Corporation (MCC).
The wine also won Best White Wine of Show, Best Single Vineyard Wine and Best Chardonnay.
Vella Wines is a tiny producer run by Mark Vella who earns his livelihood helping others to grow the best grapes possible in the Adelaide Hills.
He said simply he was “lost for words”.
Another family business, Wicks Estate, won Best Red Wine of Show and Best Shiraz with its Wicks Estate 2023 Shiraz.
The Best Sparkling of Show went to
Deviation Road won Best Sparkling of Show with its 2017 Beltana Blanc de Blancs and also Best Producer over 100 tonnes.
Pike & Joyce won Best Producer under 100 tonnes.
Both companies are also family owned.
“It highlights the bespoke nature of our wine region which is rooted in the families that live here, grow grapes and make wines here,” says Alex Trescowthick, president of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region.
“These are Hills wines made by Hills families, who have proudly staked their name to their quality.”
Head of judges Sarah Crowe from Yarra Yering in Victoria explains why the Vella Chardonnay was chosen as Best Wine of Show.
“Chardonnay is such a strong varietal from the Hills, and this wine had already fought very hard to come out on top over many outstanding Chardonnays,” she says.
“The judges were impressed by the freshness and complexity of the white wine of show.
“The Shiraz was super vibrant and fresh as well, but the white has an extra few years of bottle age over the red, so we already know it has the ability to age, and it does not look like fading anytime soon.”
Sarah says the sparkling wines were a high point.
“Selecting which gold medal wines would go through to trophy judging was not an easy task,” she says.
“It included excellent museum sparkling wines being considered for the museum trophy.
“The Wine of Provenance Trophy is the highlight class of the judging week and not surprisingly the vote came down to a Chardonnay and a Shiraz again.
“In the end, there was only one vote that separated them.
“A hearty congratulations to Sidewood for their success for the second year in a row, albeit with a different set of Chardonnay wines.”
“Gamay is the new kid on the block, so there was quite a bit of discussion and excitement about the evolution and commitment to this variety which is very heartening to hear.
“It’s also interesting when a number of different producers are recognised with trophies; it shows the quality, depth and versatility across the Adelaide Hills region.”
Crowe refers to the fact that each trophy awarded across eleven varietal classes was won by a different producer.
A total of 605 wines were entered and judged in the show.
Best Wine of Show
Sponsored by Multi Colour Corporation
Vella Wines 2020 Harvest Widow Chardonnay
Best White Wine of Show
Sponsored by Langley & Co
Vella Wines 2020 Harvest Widow Chardonnay
Best Red Wine of Show
Sponsored by The Manna Group
Wicks Estate 2023 Shiraz
Best Sparkling Wine of Show
Sponsored by Torresan
Deviation Road 2017 Beltana Blanc de Blancs
Best Producer of Show < 100 Tonnes
Sponsored by Duxton Hospitality Services
Pike & Joyce
Best Producer of Show > 100 Tonnes
Sponsored by Chassin Cooperage
Deviation Road
Best Single Vineyard Wine of Show
Sponsored by Clemens/ G & J East
Vella Wines 2020 Harvest Widow Chardonnay
Best Museum Wine of Show
Sponsored by Mt Lofty House
Sidewood 2014 Signature Owen’s Chardonnay
Wine of Provenance of Show
Sponsored by Ondeen
Sidewood Signature Owen’s Chardonnay – 2014, 2021, 2022
Best Chardonnay of Show
Sponsored by F Miller & Co
Vella Wines 2020 Harvest Widow Chardonnay
Best Sauvignon Blanc of Show
Sponsored by Fermentis
Barristers Block Wines 2024 Home Series Sauvignon Blanc
Best Riesling of Show
Sponsored by Prowine
Shaw + Smith 2024 Riesling
Best Pinot Gris/Grigio of Show
Sponsored by Hahn Corporation
La Prova 2024 Pinot Grigio
Best Gruner Veltliner of Show
Sponsored by Humanee
Hahndorf Hill 2024 Gru Gruner Veltliner
Best Other White of Show
Sponsored by Lallemand
Wines by Geoff Hardy 2024 Hand Crafted Fiano
Best Rosé of Show
Sponsored by Hills Bottling and Canning
La Prova 2024 Aglianico
Best Pinot Noir of Show
Sponsored by Vinpac
Ngeringa Vineyards 2022 Single Vineyard ‘Summit’ Pinot Noir
Best Shiraz of Show
Sponsored by National Wine Centre
Wicks Estate 2023 Shiraz
Best Gamay of Show
Sponsored by Turon Consulting & Contract Winemaking
Hesketh Wines 2024 Woodside Gamay
Best Other Red of Show
Sponsored by Culture Crop
Ministry of Clouds 2023 LDR
Best Cabernet of Show
Sponsored by Blue H2O Filtration
No trophy awarded
Best Tempranillo of Show
Sponsored by Blue TK Print
No trophy awarded
Photo: Ben Macmahon.
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