Eighty-four wines form New South Wales have been awarded gold medals ahead of the 2021 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards on Friday, 10 December.
Sixteen expert wine judges conducted the tastings over three days this week and the gold medal tally is slightly up on last year highlighting some great 2021 whites and beautiful reds from 2019 in particular.
Chair of Judges, Mr Nick Spencer said, “This year marks my seventh of judging at the NSW Wine Awards and my first year with the privilege of Chairing the show. Over the course of nearly a decade being involved in the show, what has stood out to me is the incredible quality and consistency of the wines, which has grown year on year – reflecting the tremendous investment and efforts of skilled winemakers and viticulturists in NSW.
“A testament to this quality and consistency was the number of times during the show this year that it was almost impossible to separate two or three exceptional wines to determine the ‘wine of class’. We know New South Wales produces wines that are up there with some of the best in the world, but this year really highlighted that exceptional quality across regions, varietals and style.”
When asked about which styles to look out for on the restaurant wine lists and bottle shop shelves this festive season, Mr Spencer suggested Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz as the standouts.
He added, “Responding to consumers’ insatiable appetite for Rosés in Australia, the ‘Light Reds’ class was another stand out this year. The quality of NSW Rosés has grown exponentially, and really demonstrates the skill of winemakers across the regions to craft produce that is responsive to consumer trends while maintaining quality and integrity.”
List of gold-medal-winning finalists ~ by region, in alphabetical order:
- Eden Road 2019 Syrah, Canberra District
- Eden Road 2019 Cullarin Block 71 Syrah, Canberra District
- Ironcutter Wine 2017 Sherwood Park Shiraz, Canberra District
- Lerida Estate 2019 Single Vineyard Murrumbateman Shiraz, Viognier, Canberra District
- Lerida Estate 2019 Canberra District Shiraz, Canberra District
- Lerida Estate 2019 Cullerin Shiraz, Canberra District
- McWilliam’s Wines 2019 Eliza Jane Shiraz, Canberra District
- Mount Majura Vineyard 2021 Riesling, Canberra District
- Nick O’Leary 2019 Bolaro Shiraz, Canberra District
- Shaw Wines 2018 Reserve Merriman Cabernet Sauvignon, Canberra District
- Shaw Wines 2019 Estate Shiraz, Canberra District
- Shaw Wines 2019 Winemakers Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Canberra District
- Shaw Wines 2021 Estate Riesling, Canberra District
- First Creek Wines 2021 FCR Malbec, Cowra
- McWilliam’s Wines 2021 Alternis Nero D’Avola, Gundagai
- Tumblong Hills 2019 Shiraz, Gundagai
- Tumblong Hills 2019 J Block Cuvee Shiraz, Gundagai
- Tumblong Hills 2021 Table of Plenty Nebbiolo Rose, Gundagai
- Cassegrain Wines 2021 Seasons Spring Rose, Hilltops
- Moppity Vineyards 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Hilltops
- Audrey Wilkinson 2019 The Lake Shiraz, Hunter
- Audrey Wilkinson 2021 The Ridge Semillon, Hunter
- Audrey Wilkinson 2021 Winemakers Selection Semillon, Hunter
- Dalwood Estate 2020 Shiraz, Hunter
- De Iuliis Wines 2019 Limited Release Shiraz, Hunter
- De Iuliis Wines 2019 Shiraz Touriga LDR Vineyard, Hunter
- De Iuliis Wines 2019 Single Vineyard Garden Semillon, Hunter
- De Iuliis Wines 2020 Shiraz Touriga LDR Vineyard, Hunter
- De Iuliis Wines 2021 Rosé, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2013 Winemakers Reserve Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Blackcluster Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2014 Single Vineyard Oakey Creek Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2018 Single Vineyard Balmoral Chardonnay, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2019 Single Vineyard Balmoral Chardonnay, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2019 Single Vineyard Merton Chardonnay, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2019 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2019 Winemakers Reserve Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2021 single Vineyard Murphy Vineyard Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2021 Winemakers Reserve Semillon, Hunter
- Margan 2017 Timbervines Aged Release Shiraz, Hunter
- Margan 2019 White Label Saxonvale Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Hunter
- Margan 2021 White Label Ceres Hill Albarino, Hunter
- Mount Pleasant 2014 Lovedale Semillon, Hunter
- Mount Pleasant 2019 High Paddock Shiraz, Hunter
- Mount Pleasant 2019 Mountain A Shiraz, Hunter
- Mount Pleasant 2019 Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz, Hunter
- Mount Pleasant 2019 Rosehill Shiraz, Hunter
- Silkman Wines 2014 Reserve Semillon, Hunter
- Silkman Wines 2017 SILK Chardonnay, Hunter
- Silkman Wines 2019 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter
- Silkman Wines 2019 SILK Chardonnay, Hunter
- Silkman Wines 2019 Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon, Hunter
- Thomas Wines 2017 Elenay Shiraz, Hunter
- Two Rivers 2021 Stones Throw Semillon, Hunter
- Two Rivers 2021 Vigneron’s Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter
- Tyrrell’s 2009 Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter
- First Creek Wines 2021 FCR Vermentino, Hunter
- Gartelmann Wines 2021 Benjamin Semillon, Hunter
- Saddler’s Creek Wines 2021 Winemaker’s Craft Wild White, Hunter / Hilltops
- Bunnamagoo Estate 2016 1827 Hand-Picked Cabernet Sauvignon, Mudgee
- First Ridge Wines 2021 Vermentino, Mudgee
- Gilbert 2012 Riesling, Mudgee
- Gilbert 2016 Chardonnay, Mudgee
- Gilbert 2021 Petillant Naturel Rose, Mudgee
- Robert Stein 2017 Reserve Riesling, Mudgee
- Gilbert 2019 Riesling, Mudgee
- Heifer Station 2019 Single Vineyard Home Paddock Shiraz, Orange
- Heifer Station 2019 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Orange
- JS Wine 2017 The Sunflower Reserve Chardonnay, Orange
- Pepper Tree 2021 ‘Stone Mountain’ Single Vineyard Orange Riesling, Orange
- Printhie 2021 Mountain Range Sauvignon Blanc, Orange
- Printhie Swift 2011 Blanc de Blancs, Orange
- Printhie Swift 2013 Vintage, Orange
- De Bortoli 2019 Noble One Semillon, Riverina
- De Bortoli NV Show Liqueur Muscat, Riverina
- De Bortoli Deen 2018 Botrytis Semillon, Riverina
- McWilliam’s Wines NV Show Reserve Muscat, Riverina
- Trimboli 2021 Black Duck Durif, Riverina
- Trimboli Family Wines 2021 Saverio Fiano, Riverina
- Trimboli Family Wines 2021 Saverio Trebbiano, Riverina
- Coolangatta Estate 2017 Wollstonecraft Semillon, Shoalhaven
- Centennial Vineyards NV Limited Blanc de Blancs, Southern Highlands
- Collector 2019 Tiger Tiger Chardonnay, Tumbarumba
- Kosciuszko 2021 Tumbarumba Sauvignon Blanc, Tumbarumba
