Majella magic at Limestone Coast Wine Show

Majella 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has won Best Red of Show and Best Wine of Show at the 2025 Limestone Coast Wine Show in Coonawarra.

Best White of Show went to Kongorong 2025 Riesling produced by DiGiorgio Family Wines.

Aromatic white varieties shone across the board. The standout Pinot Gris was produced by Ottelia, who take their fruit from the best vineyards in the Limestone Coast.

Landaire of Padthaway 2023 Chardonnay won Best Chadonnay. Chief of judges Philip Rich described it as “just a beautiful wine”.

Red wines from right across the Limestone Coast showed extremely well, including some lesser known varieties.

bloomfield 2025 Mencia – an exciting new project by Lauren Hansen – won Best Single Red Variety of Italian, Portuguese, Spanish Heritage, scoring 95.5 points. It was a rare half-point victory over DiGiorgio Montepulciano in what panel chair Paul Hotker described as “such an exciting and fun class to judge”.

The standout classics came from 2022, which was described as a “cracking vintage” by panel chair Cliff Royle.

Reschke 2022 Bull Trader Shiraz won Best Shiraz.

Panel chair Gwyn Olsen described the 2022 Cabernets as “classic wines with many different styles – the best showing classic Cabernet fruit power, drive and tannin structure.”

Fifty-six gold medals, 82 silver and 149 bronze medals were awarded from the 402 wines entered.

The trophy presentation was at Raidis Estate in Penola.

Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show
Sponsored by CCL Industries
Majella Wines 2022 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon

Arthur Hoffmann Trophy for Viticulturist of the Year
Sponsored by Vinpac International
Steven Lynn

David Wynn Trophy for Best Red of Show
Sponsored by Cooperages 1912 Australia
Majella Wines 2022 Majella Cabernet

Colin Kidd Trophy for Best White of Show
Sponsored by Padthaway Grape Growers
DiGiorgio Family Wines 2025 Kongorong Riesling

Karl Seppelt Trophy for Best Aromatic White Wine
Sponsored by Multi-Color Corporation
DiGiorgio Family Wines 2025 Kongorong Riesling

Pam Dunsford Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Sponsored by VAF Memstar
Landaire 2023 Chardonnay

Eric Brand Trophy for Best Shiraz
Sponsored by Lallemand Australia
Reschke 2022 Bull Trader Shiraz

Best Cabernet Sauvignon (4 to 6 Years Old)
Sponsored by BHF Technologies
Yalumba 2021 Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon

HR (Ron) Haselgrove Trophy for Best Cabernet (Current to 3 Years Old)
Sponsored by Wrattonbully Wine Region Association
Majella Wines 2022 Majella Cabernet

Peter Wehl Trophy for Best Single Red Variety of Italian, Portuguese, Spanish Heritage
Sponsored by Cork Supply Australia
bloomfield 2025 Mencia

Best Blended Red
Sponsored by Coonawarra Vignerons Association
Balnaves of Coonawarra 2024 Cabernet Merlot

Best Rosé
Sponsored by Must@Coonawarra
Reschke 2025 R-Series Rosé

Best Sweet or Fortified Wine
Supported by Wattle Range Council
Leconfield Wines 2021 Late Harvest Riesling

Best Sparkling Wine
Sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions
Cuvée-Co Wines 2021 Nessa Blanc de Blancs

Most Successful Exhibitor
Sponsored by Kauri
CW Wines

Small Batch Wine Award
Sponsored by VinCru
Farmer’s Leap 2022 Brian Shiraz

Best Individual Vineyard Wine
Sponsored by Frost Boss Australia
Parker Estate 2024 Small Batch Cabernet Franc

Best Museum White
Sponsored by Eura Carla Transport
Patrick of Coonawarra 2017 Block 5 Aged Riesling

Ewen Fergusson McBain Trophy for Best Red Museum Wine
Sponsored by Hahn Corporation
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2018 Michael Shiraz

Best Other Single Red Variety of French Heritage
Sponsored by Torresan Estates
Parker Estate 2024 Small Batch Cabernet Franc

Chief of Judges Wine Award
Sponsored by Lawrence’s Irrigation
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2022 Childs Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Wine of Provenance (White or Red)
Sponsored by Elders Naracoorte
St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon (2022, 2016, 2012)