Margaret River’s Credaro Family Estate picks up the Red Rhone over £15 trophy
Australia’s resurgence on the world wine scene saw its producers scoop six international trophies in front of a star-studded audience at last night’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) in London.
Top winemakers from around the globe congregated at the black-tie gala dinner held in the Paul Hamlyn Hall of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
They were joined by fellow wine luminaries, including Decanter World Wine Awards chairman Stephen Spurrier and guest vice-chair for 2013, Gerard Basset OBE MW MS.
Australia’s haul of six international trophies eclipsed other producer nations, although Spain, South Africa and Chile also produced four winners each. Australia’s neighbour, New Zealand, also saw its producers take three trophies.
France, which last year claimed six trophies, could only manage three this time around. These included the south-westerly Chateau Jolys, which won best White Blend under £15 for its 2012 Jurancon Sec.
Decanter publishing director Sarah Kemp said she was thrilled with the entries and the Opera House celebration. ‘DWWA 2013 has been an extraordinary year, not just for the record-breaking number of entries but also for the unprecedented gathering of talent from across the world.
‘It’s not often that you see four of the world’s best sommeliers and 75 Masters of Wine in one room.’
Such is the prestige of the international trophies, 14,362 wines from 61 regions entered the category knowing that only 32 could win. This represents 1% of the total medals handed out to 9,872 wines as part of the DWWA 2013.
The success of Australia was notable for the breadth of premium producers claiming prizes.
Winners included: the 2011 Josef Chromy Chardonnay from Tasmania, for the Chardonnay over £15 award; the 2008 High Eden Riesling from Eden Springs for Riesling over £15; Credaro Family Estate’s 2011 Beach Head Shiraz, Margaret River, for Red Rhone Varietal over £15; and also Campbells’ Topaque, for Sweet Fortified Wine over £15.
Among the more surprising wins were the 2009 Sauska ‘Cuvee 5’, from Villany in Hungary, which won the international trophy for best Red Bordeaux varietal over £15.
Mission Hill Family Estate, based in British Columbia, Canada, also claimed best Pinot Noir for under £15 with its 2010 Martin’s Lane, from Okanagan Valley. Meanwhile, Croatia’s Kutjevo, 2011 Traminec Ledeno won best Sweet Wine for over £15.
Of the 32 international trophies handed out, there were also wins for Italy, which saw producers claim two awards, as well as one trophy each to Germany, Argentina and Portugal.
In the retailer awards, Tesco beat off stiff competition to claim the supermarket of the year trophy, while fellow multiple retailer Morrisons won ‘innovator of the year’. Specialist merchant of the year went to Vini Italiani, last year’s winner of the innovator award.
Click to see the full DWWA 2013 results
The Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 special issue goes on sale on Thursday 5th September, in the following stores throughout the UK: Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, WH Smith, Hedonism Wine, among other leading independent retailers.
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