The finalists of the 2018 NSW Wine Awards have been revealed, raising the anticipation of who will be awarded one of the top Trophies at the 23rd annual NSW Wine Awards Presentation on 19 October at Government House in Sydney.
Chair of judges Dave Brookes said, “The quality, dedication and professionalism of the panel chairs, judges and associates at this year’s NSW Wine Awards ensured some fantastic results and certainly made my job easier. The hospitality and rich history of the wonderful Southern Highlands wine region, where the judging took place from 11 to 13 September, has also made sure that the 2018 NSW Wine Awards will be a truly memorable event.”
The vigorous judging process, which saw 16 expert judges from across Australia taste a record number of nearly 900 wines over three days, has unveiled 402 medal winning wines, 51 of which are Gold Medal winners.
Dave said, “The medal results shine a light on the state’s diversity of wine styles and the quality of a pleasing run of excellent vintages. Current release Rieslings from Canberra and Mudgee were a highlight as were the Shiraz releases from a number of regions, from classic medium-weight Hunter Valley to funky-edged whole-bunch wines. Chardonnay continues to be on a roll with pristine and elegant wines on display from the Hunter Valley and Orange.
“A revelation this year was the overall quality and pleasing number of gold medals in the alternative red varieties with stunning examples of Malbec, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. These wines’ inherent drinkability and versatility in the food/wine matching stakes is bound to be a hit with the wine consumer and these wine styles have a bright future in the state.”
The 51 Gold Medal finalists will now move on to the next stage of the awards, where the top 2018 Trophy winners will be announced at the exclusive Awards Presentation.
For preliminary medal results see https://www.nswwine.com.au/2018-pier-one-nsw-wine-awards-results/
Gold medal-winning finalists
Angullong Wines 2017 Fossil Hill Rosato Orange
Bimbadgen 2013 Signature Semillon Hunter Valley
Brokenwood Wines 2018 Semillon Hunter Valley
Brokenwood Wines 2013 Stanleigh Park Semillon Hunter Valley
Calabria Family Wines 2017 Private Bin Montepulciano Riverina
Calabria Family Wines 2017 Trimboli Black Duck Durif Riverina
Cockfighters Ghost 2017 Reserve Semillon Hunter Valley
De Bortoli Wines 2016 Noble One Semillon Riverina
Dee Vine Estate 2018 2 Monkeys Cabernet Merlot Riverina
Dee Vine Estate 2018 2 Monkeys Shiraz Riverina
De Iuliis Wines 2017 Steven Vineyard Shiraz Hunter Valley
De Iuliis Wines 2017 Special Release Sangivoese Hilltops
De Iuliis Wines 2018 Sangiovese Merlot Hunter Valley
First Creek Wines 2018 Winemakers Reserve Semillon Hunter Valley
First Creek Wines 2017 Single Vineyard Murphys Semillon Hunter Valley
Freeman Vineyards 2014 Secco Rondinella / Corvina Hilltops
Hart & Hunter 2017 Twenty Six Rows Chardonnay Hunter Valley
Hungerford Hill 2017 Epic Shiraz Hunter Valley
Margan Family Wines 2014 Aged Release Shiraz Hunter Valley
McGuigan 2013 Bin 9000 Semillon Hunter Valley
McGuigan 2018 Bin 9000 Semillon Hunter Valley
McWilliam’s Wines 2017 Alternis Tempranillo Gundagai
McWilliam’s Wines 2017 Alternis Touriga Riverina
Moppity Vineyards 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltops
Mount Majura Vineyard 2018 Riesling Canberra
Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz Hunter Valley
Mount Pleasant Wines 2017 High Paddock Shiraz Hunter Valley
Nick O’Leary 2018 White Rocks Riesling Canberra
Nick O’Leary 2017 Shiraz Canberra
Nugan Estate 2016 Cookoothama Botrytis Darlington Point Semillon Riverina
Printhie Wines NV Swift Cuvee Chardonnay Pinot Noir Orange
Silkman Wines 2017 Reserve Chardonnay Hunter Valley
Sweetwater Estate 2014 Shiraz Hunter Valley
Sweetwater Estate 2017 Shiraz Hunter Valley
Sweetwater Estate 2017 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Hunter Valley
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Cabernet Sauvignon Orange
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Hunter Valley Reserve Shiraz Hunter Valley
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Reserve Shiraz Orange
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Reserve Merlot Orange
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Orange Reserve Malbec Orange
Tamburlaine Wines 2017 Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc Orange
Thomas Wines 2013 Cellar Reserve Braemore Semillon Hunter Valley
Trentham Estate Wines 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Murray Darling (NSW)
Tulloch Wines 2017 Cellar Door Release Tempranillo Orange
Tulloch Wines 2018 Cellar Door Release Sangiovese Hilltops / Young
Two Rivers Wines 2017 Yarrawa Road Chardonnay Hunter Valley
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2013 Belford Semillon Hunter Valley
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2013 Vat 1 Semillon Hunter Valley
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2014 Vat 1 Semillon Hunter Valley
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2015 Vat 47 Chardonnay Hunter Valley
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2017 Belford Chardonnay Hunter Valley