RieslingFreak wins top award at Sydney Royal Wine Show
28/07/2017
RieslingFreak has taken out Best Wine of Show at the 2017 Sydney Royal Wine Show.
The 2017 RieslingFreak No 3 Clare Valley Riesling won five awards including the KPMG Perpetual Trophy for best wine of show, Albert Chan Memorial Prize for best white and RAS of NSW Annual Prize for best young white.
It was also awarded the prestigious Tucker Seabrook Trophy, which is given to the best wine entered from the seven major capital-city wine shows held over the past year.
It's the first time a riesling has won the top prize of Best Wine of Show since 2003.
It's been a huge year for RieslingFreak, which was only established in 2009. The unusual brand name was inspired by head winemaker John Hughes' nickname at university, inspired by his passion for the grape varietal.
“My love for riesling comes from its variety and diversity, being able to go from sparkling to fortified and dry to sweet,” he told The Australian. “We are fairly new in the game, but we are getting there.”
Hughes (pictured above after receiving his trophies last night) also recently won the Young Guns of Wine Winemaker’s Choice 2017 award and proudly noted: "This is the first time I have ever won a trophy! Receiving the vote of my peers, and fellow winemakers, means so much to me, and probably the most valued feedback and reward an individual winemaker could ever ask for."
More than 2100 wines were entered in the 2017 Sydney Royal Wine Show by 352 exhibitors.
This year's Chair of judges, Samantha Connew, said she was impressed with both the quality and variety of wines submitted for the awards. “Across the board, the wines rewarded demonstrate the diversity of a dynamic Australian winemaking and winegrowing community which never rests on its laurels,” she said.
“Riesling has a special place in the hearts of Australians as it was for many their very first venture into the world of wine decades ago, and which is rightly celebrated not just for the vitality of youth but for an amazing ability to age as well as reflecting a strong sense of site and place.”
the drinks association Perennial Trophy for Best Shiraz goes to ...
the drinks association is thrilled to celebrate its annual trophy being awarded to St Hallett for its Mattschoss Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz (2015).
The wine also took out the trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine, the perpetual trophy for Best Red and annual trophy for Best Red.
James Halliday describes the Shiraz as "Avant-garde winemaking in 3-tonne fermenters using partial whole-bunch carbonic maceration in various ways. It is as expressive as it is elegant, with a pinot-ish display of red fruits and spices on its long and silky palate, freshness and balance its watchwords. 13.5% alc, screwcap 96 points; drink to 2030."
Congratulations to St Hallett and we look forward to sipping your winning drop at the 2017 Wine Communicators of Australia Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy Winners Lunch.
The full trophy winners' list ...
THE DOUGLAS LAMB PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RIESLING
John Hughes Wines - RieslingFreak No.3 Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
THE MCCARTHY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC
Miles From Nowhere - Sauvignon Blanc (2017)
THE DAVID CLARKE MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SEMILLON
Tyrrell's Vineyards - Stevens Semillon (2011)
THE ARTHUR KELMAN PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST PINOT GRIS/PINOT GRIGIO
Lobethal Road Wines - Pinot Gris (2016)
THE A P JOHN COOPERS PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CHARDONNAY
Flametree Wines - SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay (2016)
THE BERT BEAR MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER WHITE VARIETAL
Nepenthe - Winemaker Select Gruner Veltliner (2016)
THE LIQUORLAND PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WHITE BLEND
Xanadu Wines - DJL Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (2016)
THE HANAMINNO PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SWEET WHITE
DeBortoli Wines - Noble One (2015)
THE DAN MURPHY'S VALUE PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST VALUE WHITE
Miles From Nowhere - Sauvignon Blanc (2017)
THE DR HENRY JOHN LINDEMAN MEMORIAL PERPETUAL PRIZE FOR BEST MATURE WHITE
Tyrrell's Vineyards - Stevens Semillon (2011)
THE RAS OF NSW ANNUAL PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG WHITE
John Hughes Wines - RieslingFreak No.3 Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
THE LESLIE KEMENY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST ROSÉ
Koonara Wines - Emily May Rose Pinot Noir (2017)
THE GEOFFREY CRUNDALL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST PINOT NOIR
Meadowbank Wines - Pinot Noir (2016)
THE DAN MURPHY'S PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Hardy's Reynella Chronicles 7th Green Cabernet Sauvignon (2016)
THE JONES, STEAINS AND WALLER PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET DOMINANT BLEND OR SHIRAZ DOMINANT BLEND
Knappstein Winery - Insider Shiraz Malbec (2016)
THE DRINKS ASSOCIATION PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST SHIRAZ
St Hallett - Mattschoss Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz (2015)
THE WINE COMMUNICATORS OF AUSTRALIA PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL
Amberley Wines - Merlot (2016)
THE GEORGE MACKEY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST VALUE RED
Shingleback - Red Knot Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre (2016)
THE RUDY KOMON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST MATURE RED
Evans & Tate - Redbrook Shiraz (2012)
THE THORP ANNUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SPARKLING WHITE OR ROSÉ
House of Arras - Grand Vintage (2008)
THE INTERCONTACT PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SPARKLING RED
W Salter and Son - Pepperjack Sparkling Shiraz (NV)
THE J C M FORNACHON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST FORTIFIED
Saltram - Mr Pickwick Rare Tawny (NV)
THE JJ MCWILLIAM MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST BRANDY
St Agnes Distillery - XO 15 Year Old Brandy (NV)
THE LEN EVANS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE
St Hallett - Mattschoss Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz (2015)
THE RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SMALL PRODUCER WINE
Clonal Brothers - Amen Break Chardonnay (2015)
THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES JAMES BUSBY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST NSW WINE
Tyrrell's Vineyards - Vat 47 Chardonnay (2012)
THE RAS OF NSW ANNUAL VERSATILITY PRIZE
(Awarded to the highest scoring Exhibit that demonstrates versatility when judged both with and without complementary food)
Saltram - Mr Pickwick Rare Tawny (NV)
THE INTERNATIONAL GUEST JUDGE ANNUAL PRIZE
Flametree Wines - SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay (2016)
THE STEWARDS' ANNUAL PRIZE
Koonara Wines - Emily May Rose Pinot Noir (2017)
THE ALBERT CHAN MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BEST WHITE
John Hughes Wines - RieslingFreak No.3 Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
THE DR GILBERT PHILLIPS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RED
St Hallett - Mattschoss Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz (2015)
PRIZE (ANNUAL TROPHY) FOR THE BEST RED WINE
St Hallett - Mattschoss Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz (2015)
THE KPMG PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WINE OF SHOW
John Hughes Wines - RieslingFreak No.3 Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
THE TUCKER SEABROOK PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST STATE SHOW WINE
John Hughes Wines - RieslingFreak No.3 Clare Valley Riesling (2017)
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