The top wines from the first Decanter Asia Wine Awards were cast into the spotlight as the competition handed out its prestigious International Trophies in Hong Kong earlier today.
The Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) had attracted over 2,200 wines from 42 wine regions, from which 13 were chosen as the best among all regions in each category.
Australia emerged as the best performing country of the competition, winning six of the 13 international Trophies – the highest number from a New World country.
The International Trophy Winners included Fox Creek’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 for the Red Bordeaux Varietal Trophy, Tasmania’s Bay of Fires 2010 for the Chardonnay Trophy and All Saints Estate’s Rare Muscat NV for the Sweet Fortified Trophy.
Ray Gatt, owner of Gatt Wines and winner of Riesling International Trophy for his Eden Springs High Eden Riesling 2008, said he was ‘delighted’ to win the trophy.
‘It was a very competitive competition with many entries, so for my Riesling to be judged the very best, not only from Australia, but also from all over the world, is a great honour for our winery and the team there.’
France also successfully secured three top awards in the categories of Red Rhône Varietal, Sparkling and Sweet International Trophies for Seigneur d’Aupenac 2009 from Cave de Roquebrun, Piper-Heidsieck’s 2004 Brut and Château Suduiraut’s 2005 Sauternes respectively.
Other International Trophies went to Spain, Italy, Argentina and New Zealand, with Tarras Vineyards’ The Canyon 2009 beating Burgundy’s Domaine Aurelien Verdet to triumph in the Pinot Noir category.
Hayden Johnston, owner of Tarras Wines, told DecanterChina.com that he was ‘over the moon’ to have won the Pinot Noir International Trophy for the Canyon Pinot Noir.
‘I’m very proud to have a wine entered in the Decanter Asia Wine Awards and over the moon to have a trophy. It’s something that’s really important to me – to have this recognition internationally is something very special, and perfect timing.’
The Decanter Asia Wine Awards competition, co-chaired by Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Steven Spurrier, established itself as Asia’s largest wine competition in its first year. Over 90% of its judges are currently based in Asia.
See the full DAWA International Trophy results
Written by Nina Fan Feng
