Aussie wine wins international award

An Australian chardonnay has beaten wines from more than 50 countries to be awarded the Champion White Trophy at the International Wine Challenge.

In its 37th year, the competition assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards.

Tasmania’s Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2018 took one of the five major awards marking the second year in a row the Tolpuddle Vineyard has taken out the top prize in its category.

A total of four Australian wines were included in the 30 best list, making Australia one of the top-performing countries.

New Zealand has also cemented its reputation as a world-class red wine-producing country with a Pinot Noir and a Syrah making it into the list. Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir 2018 from Central Otago was awarded both the New Zealand Red Trophy and Sustainable Trophy, while Church Road 1 Syrah 2017 beat Syrah from all over the world to be named International Syrah Trophy winner.

South Africa’s entries in the best 30 highlight the diversity of white wines currently being produced in the country with the Elgin Chardonnay 2018 from Boschendal Wines scooping the South African White Trophy. Groot Constantia Wine Estate’s Sauvignon Blanc 2019 won the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy, the first time in 10 years that the award hasn’t been won by either the Loire or New Zealand.

Co-chair Helen McGinn said what sets the International Wine Challenge apart from any other global wine competition is the overtly democratic way in which the wines are judged.

“We pride ourselves in having expert judges from all areas of the industry who taste the wines, giving each wine the very best chance to be judged as fairly as possible.”

The full list of award winners in the 2020 International Wine Challenge can be seen here.

Image caption: Adam Wadewitz senior winemaker at Tolpuddle Vineyard. Image courtesy of International Wine Challenge.