Bleasdale Vineyards – established in 1850 – figured prominently at the 2026 Multi-Color Corporation Langhorne Creek Wine Show today.
The Bleasdale Reed Patch 2025 Single Vineyard Malbec was named Champion Wine of Show.
Bleasdale also won Best Malbec and Producer of the Year.
Perennial trophy winner Lake Breeze won three trophies – Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Best Red from Alternative or Other Varieties, and Best Museum or Fortified Wine.
Watkins Wine vineyard manager Mark Evans was named the Peats Soil & Garden Supplies Grape Grower of the Year.
In his first year as chair of judges, Adam Walls was impressed by Langhorne Creek’s diversity.
“The show was an insightful immersion into the region’s wines, with an impressively high standard of winemaking demonstrated across all classes,” Adam says.
“The red categories revealed an encouraging trend toward fresher, more vibrant expressions, complemented by thoughtful and well-integrated oak usage.
“The alternative red and white classes further highlighted the region’s versatility, showcasing that its strengths extend well beyond the traditional stalwarts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.”
Adam says the Malbec class was especially noteworthy.
“The 20 wines presented demonstrated remarkable diversity in vineyard origin, clonal selection and house style, reinforcing the view that Langhorne Creek comfortably sits at the top of this variety’s totem pole,” he says
Adam’s Chair of Judges trophy went to Terrachroma Wines 2025 Long Shot Greco.
“Not only was this wine aromatic and full of flavour, it also had textural weight and chew,” he says.
“The role of texture and mouthfeel in Australian white wine has become more considered of late, more discussed and celebrated.
“This wine perfectly captured our maturity in how we look at white wines.”
Other judges included Alexandra Alavoine (Treasury Wine Estates) and wine communicator Samantha Payne.
Associate judges were Charlotte Hardy (Charlotte Dalton Wines) and Gonzalo Sanchez (Lloyd Brothers).
Trophy winners
Best White Wine
Sponsored by Langhorne Creek Grape & Wine Inc
Bremerton 2025 Special Release Fiano
Best Rosé or Sparkling Wine
Sponsored by Peats Soil & Garden Supplies
W Salter & Son 2025 Pepperjack Grenache Rosé
Best Blended Red Wine
Sponsored by Cooperages 1912
Wolf Blass Wines 2024 Grey Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Shiraz
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Sponsored by FrostBoss
Lake Breeze Wines 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Shiraz
Sponsored by Project Wine Pty Ltd
Kimbolton 2021 The Rifleman Shiraz
Best Malbec
Sponsored by Giles Machinery
Bleasdale Reed Patch 2025 Single Vineyard Malbec
Best Red from Alternative or Other Varieties
Sponsored by Jon Burke Creative Digital Video
Lake Breeze 2025 Nero d’Avola
Best Museum or Fortified Wine
Sponsored by Daish Irrigation & Netafim
Lake Breeze Wines 2016 Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Chair of Judges Award
Terrachroma Wines 2025 Long Shot Greco
Champion Wine of the Show
Sponsored by Multi-Color Corporation
Bleasdale Reed Patch 2025 Single Vineyard Malbec
Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Vinpac
Bleasdale Vineyards
Grapegrower of the Year
Sponsored by Peats Soil & Garden Supplies
Mark Evans
Photograph: Bleasdale senior winemaker Nicole Brasier. Credit: John Kruger.
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