Australia triumphs at China Wine & Spirits Awards

A $20 wine from Adelaide Hills has won the trophy for Pinot Noir of the Year at the 2020 China Wine and Spirits Awards.

South Australian winery Taylors Wines claimed the trophy and a double gold medal for its Taylors Estate Pinot Noir 2018.

The competition is the largest and most prestigious wine and spirits competition in China.

Now in its 19th year, the annual competition held in Hong Kong aims to discover the wines and spirits that will be most successful in the Chinese market. One hundred judges from across the region’s wine and spirits industry, including top buyers, importers, distributors, retailers and sommeliers, judge wines from 35 countries in a blind tasting to select the top winners in each category.

Despite the inquiry into Australian wineries dumping cheap wine into the Chinese market, the results of the competition present a different view, with Australian wines being well represented on the winner’s podium.

The Taylors Estate Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2018 was selected as the top pinot from a wide array of producers, spanning notable pinot producing regions like the Yarra Valley, Tasmania and Marlborough.

“We’re delighted to see our Estate Pinot Noir take the crown for Pinot of the Year from such a diverse field of producers in the competition,” said Managing Director Mitchell Taylor.

“It’s a beautiful wine, with the hallmark elegance and flavour of Adelaide Hills pinot noir. While our family winery is well-known for producing world-class shiraz and cabernet wines, it’s exciting to see the growing recognition of our other varieties and styles.”