Stella Bella 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon has won the Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Trophy for Australia’s best wine at the Royal Queensland Awards wine competition.
The winery wins a $12,000 fellowship for travel, training and education.
The wine also won the Stodart Trophy for Best Red Wine (established since 1970), and the Alan Cook MBE Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chief judge Julian Langworthy said the wine was a clear standout in the competition.
“The Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 had great freshness and real vibrancy of fruit, but a lovely fine tannin structure,” he said.
“It rose strongly as the Grand Champion, with a lot of cohesion through the judging panels on that being the top wine.”
Stella Bella chief winemaker Jarrad Olsen said the recognition meant a great deal to the team.
“It proves that we are working collectively towards a common goal and doing an exceptional job of it – the boost in team morale is huge, and it really reinvigorates everyone,” he said.
“The 2024 Stella Bella Cabernet stands out from its peers as it is made from 100 percent estate grown fruit from the south of Margaret River.
“There aren’t many vineyards planted in these cooler areas and, in warmer vintages like 2024, the retention of detail, perfume and energy in these southern Margaret River sites creates a point of difference that really stands out.”
The Dr Bill Ryan Trophy for Best Pinot Noir, which includes a $5,000 bursary, was awarded to Giant Steps 2025 Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir.
The Star Trophy for Best Queensland Wine was taken out by Golden Grove Estate for its 2025 Nero d’Avola.
This year’s competition attracted 1,164 wines from 178 Australian wineries, judged over four days last week by 25 industry experts.
Mr Langworthy said the overall quality of entries was extremely high, with 128 gold medals awarded.
“Chardonnay was a highlight as usual, with one judge noting the 2025 vintage was the best batch of Chardonnays they had ever judged, and I also really enjoyed the diversity of the Rieslings, as well as the Semillon,” he said.
“The gold medals we awarded across a diverse range of styles are wines people should seek out and enjoy – they show how strong Australian wine is at the moment, with some great gems among them.”
The award-winning wines will be showcased to consumers at the Grape Grazing by Night event at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday 10 July from 6-9pm. Tickets are still available at www.grapegrazingbynight.com.au.
ANGELO PUGLISI GRAND CHAMPION TROPHY
Australia’s best wine
Stella Bella 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
STODART TROPHY – BEST RED WINE
Stella Bella 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
DR BILL RYAN TROPHY – BEST PINOT NOIR
Giant Steps 2025 Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir
MALDWYN AND IAN DAVIES TROPHY – BEST SPARKLING
SOUMAH of Yarra Valley 2020 SOUMAH Crescent Moon Méthode Traditionnelle
BEST RIESLING TROPHY
HEAD Wines 2025 Eden Valley Riesling
BEST SEMILLON TROPHY
Brokenwood Wines 2019 ILR Reserve Semillon
BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC TROPHY
Forester Estate 2025 Sauvignon Blanc
BEST PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO TROPHY
Parish Vineyards 2025 Evandale Pinot Gris
FLEMING TROPHY – BEST CHARDONNAY
Forester Estate 2025 Yelverton Reserve Chardonnay
BEST WHITE VARIETAL TROPHY
Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2019
BEST WHITE BLEND TROPHY
Howard Park Wines 2025 Miamup Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
BEST VALUE WHITE WINE PRIZE
Jacob’s Creek 2025 Classic Pinot Grigio
BEST SWEET WHITE TROPHY
De Bortoli Wines 2022 Deen De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon
BEST ROSÉ TROPHY
Andrew Peace Wines 2026 Masterpeace
BEST GRENACHE TROPHY
Paulett Wines 2025 BMS Brielle Grenache
BEST GRENACHE BLEND TROPHY
St Hugo Wines – St Hugo Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2025
BEST SANGIOVESE, MONTEPULCIANO, NERO D’AVOLA, BARBERA, DOLCETTO, NEBBIOLO OR BLEND TROPHY
Longview Vineyards 2025 Jupiter Barbera
THE WINE GUILD (QUEENSLAND) TROPHY – BEST SHIRAZ
Devil’s Cave 2025 Devils Baie
BEST SHIRAZ BLEND TROPHY
De Bortoli Wines 2025 La Boheme Syrah Gamay
THE ALAN COOK MBE TROPHY – BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Stella Bella 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
LIQUOR MERCHANTS OF AUSTRALIA LTD TROPHY – BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND
Yarra Yering 2024 Agincourt Cabernet Malbec
BEST RED VARIETAL TROPHY
De Bortoli Wines 2025 PHI Gamay Noir
BEST RED BLEND TROPHY
Yarra Yering 2025 Light Dry Red Pinot Shiraz
BEST VALUE RED WINE PRIZE
Berton Vineyard 2024 Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SMALL BATCH TROPHY SUPPORTED BY WINE FRIENDS
Squitchy Lane 2024 Limited Release
BEST FORTIFIED WINE TROPHY
Morris Wines Old Premium Rare Topaque
BEST LOW ALCOHOL OR DE ALCOHOLISED BEVERAGE PRIZE
Brown Brothers Moscato Rose Zero
THE STAR TROPHY – BEST QUEENSLAND WINE
Golden Grove Estate 2025 Nero D’Avola
BEST ORGANIC OR BIODYNAMIC WINE TROPHY
Angove Family Winemakers 2025 Warboys Grenache
BEST WHITE WINE TROPHY
Forester Estate 2025 Yelverton Reserve Chardonnay
THE STAR EMERGING QUEENSLAND WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Dawn Walker from Rokkwell
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