Barossa family winery Kellermeister was named Shiraz Producer of the Year at the 2026 London Wine Competition.
Its flagship wines Wild Witch Shiraz ($88) and Black Sash Shiraz ($92) won gold medals and The Meister Shiraz ($350) won double gold.
Mark Pearce’s winemaking philosophy has been finely tuned by more than a decade of annual pilgrimages to the Rhône Valley, where he has made Shiraz and is undertaking collaborative projects with the classic Rhône varieties Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
“While the Rhône boasts over 1,000 years of vi1cultural heritage, the Barossa offers a rare and powerful advantage: phylloxera-free, ancient vine material – some of the oldest in the world,” he says.
Mark says it’s a joy to now be working closely with his sons, Hugo and Rupert, who have joined the business in recent years.
“Together we continue to chase the dream of crafting the very best wines we can produce in this beautiful region, which I believe is the archetypal home for Shiraz in the New World – informed by the timeless wisdom of the inspiration I derive from the Rhône in France, and the unique power of our ancient vines in the Barossa,” he says.
Entries in the London Wine Competition are tasted blind by more than 70 of the world’s most respected wine professionals including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, senior buyers and wine directors.
Kellermeister was founded in 1976. Mark joined the winery in 2010 and bought it in 2012.
Photo: Mark Pearce with his sons Hugo and Rupert.
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