As a lover of Grenache, especially that which is being produced by many fine South Australian vineyards, it gladdens my soul to see a Grenache taking out the top award in the National Wine Show of Australia for the first time in the show’s 50-year history.
The winner of the top gong, Willunga 100’s 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache, from a small South Australian vineyard, was described by chair of judges, Matt Harrop, as “incredibly beautiful”.
Here, at Food Wine Travel, we look forward to trying it over the weekend, as the trophy winners will be open for tasting during the inaugural National Wine Festival at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. A complete list of all the trophy winners is at the bottom of this post.
Willunga 100 winemaker Renae Hirsch accepted the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at last night’s awards ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. The wine narrowly edged out the winner of the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for White Wine of Show, Deep Woods Estate’s 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, for the top prize.
No more second fiddle
Mr Harrop said the first-time win for a Grenache in the only national adjudication of Australian wine reflected a reversal of fortune for a variety that had long played second fiddle to more commonly known grapes.
“Grenache is riding the zeitgeist. It’s the hottest thing outside Pinot Noir, which took us by storm 10 to 15 years ago when Tasmania burst onto the scene. The same attention to detail is now being put into Grenache by smart winemakers in the warmer parts of South Australia,” he said.
“Grenache was always seen as just a workhorse – overcropped, turned into Rosé, used in blends – but there’s an amazing resource of old Grenache vines, mainly in the Barossa and McLaren Vale, and people are now looking after them, farming them properly, and recognising that they can really make something stunning. Willunga 100 and others like it are letting the fruit do the talking and creating incredibly beautiful wines.”
Mr Harrop also praised Margaret River’s Julian Langworthy for his Deep Woods Estate 2023 Reserve Chardonnay. “Julian has been making some of Australia’s finest Chardonnays for a long time. It’s as good as any Australian Chardonnay can get – an absolute beacon,” he said.
Willunga 100’s winning Grenache, sourced from its own estate vineyard in Blewitt Springs, was not the only highlight for the McLaren Vale producer. Its gold medal-winning 2023 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache was also among the five finalists competing for the Grenache Trophy.
Of the 298 exhibitors in this year’s National Wine Show, a record 76 were entering for the first time. A total of 1,071 wines were judged by the 12-strong judging panel in blind tastings over four days. To make it to the National Wine Show, wines must have won a gold or silver medal at a qualifying capital city or regional show.
Every wine entered in the show, including the top trophy winners, will be opened for public tasting during the inaugural National Wine Festival at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra from today until Sunday, marking the 50th anniversary of the National Wine Show of Australia.
2025 National Wine Show of Australia trophy winners
Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show: Willunga 100 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache (SA)
James Halliday Trophy for Red Wine of Show: Willunga 100 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache (SA)
Len Evans Memorial Trophy for White Wine of Show: Deep Woods Estate 2023 Reserve Chardonnay (WA)
Fortified: Morris Wines NV Cellar Reserve Grand Muscat (VIC)
Alternate Red Blends: Chalk Hill 2023 Tempranillo Grenache (SA)
Cabernet Blends: Evans & Tate 2022 Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot (WA)
Shiraz Blends: Hamelin Bay Wines 2023 Rampant Red (WA)
Grenache Blends: Cat Amongst the Pigeons 2023 Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro (SA)
Red Varietal: The Pawn 2023 Malbec (SA)
Cabernet: Deep Woods Estate 2022 Single Vineyard G2 Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
Shiraz: Yabby Lake 2023 Heathcote Estate Single Vineyard Shiraz (VIC)
Grenache: Willunga 100 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache (SA)
Pinot: Lowestoft 2023 La Maison Pinot Noir (TAS)
Rosé: La Prova 2024 Aglianico Rosato (SA)
Blended White: Xanadu 2024 Circa 77 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (WA)
White Varietal: tripe.Iscariot 2023 Wilyabrup Chenin Blanc (WA)
Chardonnay: Deep Woods Estate 2023 Reserve Chardonnay (WA)
Sauvignon Blanc: Xanadu 2024 Vinework Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Semillon: Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2017 Belford Semillon (NSW)
Riesling: Orlando 2012 Steingarten Riesling (SA)
Pinot Gris/Grigio: De Bortoli 2024 One Line Pinot Grigio (VIC)
Sweet White: De Bortoli 2021 Noble One Semillon (VIC)
Sparkling: House of Arras 2016 Grand Vintage (TAS)
