Australian winery, Wolf Blass, has been named Red Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge (IWC) for the fourth time. The announcement was made in London last night in what is the 37th year of competition, one of the world’s finest, most meticulously judged and influential wine contests.
Wolf Blass was also named Red Winemaker of the Year in 2008, 2013 and 2016.
Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher, receives the award with colleague, Senior Winemaker Steven Frost. Mr Hatcher said, “Being named Red Winemaker of the Year for the fourth time is very humbling. We are very proud with the continued recognition we have received at one of the world’s most respected and prestigious wine competitions and it is a great triumph for Wolf Blass, reinforcing our reputation as one of Australia’s and the world’s leading winemakers with a strong history of major global award wins.
“The Wolf Blass philosophy of synergistic blending, always maintaining quality, character and consistency was embedded by our Founder, Wolfgang Blass, from the very beginning and is very much a philosophy the winemaking team upholds today. This accolade cements this; given wines across our entire range contributed to this outstanding win,” adds Hatcher.
A recipient of more than 10,000 medals and trophies globally. The IWC also awarded the 2019 Wolf Blass Grey Label McLaren Vale Shiraz the International Shiraz Trophy – after a five-year reign held by Syrah from New Zealand. It is the first time in almost a decade that Australia has won this trophy.
“We treasure awards won at respected international wine competitions as they are a true, independent assessment of our wines from some of the most experienced and respected wine judges in the world,” said Hatcher.
Arras E.J Carr Late Disgorged Vintage 2005 for was awarded the trophy for Australian Sparkling, Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2019 for Australian White and Baudinet from Kilikanoon Wines for Australian Red.
The rigorous IWC judging process assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Each IWC medal-winning wine will be tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of two panels of judges tasting together, and then tasted by two Co-Chairs to verify the panel results. The IWC judging teams include experts and influencers from the international wine industry, commercial decision makers, buyers and MWs working in unison to find the highest quality wines each year from the 52 wine-producing countries represented in the competition.
