By Amy Looker

The top 40 wines in NSW were announced on Monday night at the NSW Wine Awards Gala Presentation Dinner, with Brokenwood’s 2007 Forest Edge Vineyard from Orange taking out the award for 2009 NSW Wine of the Year.

Over 800 wines were entered in to the awards, which showcases the best wines and regions in NSW.

Held at Catalina Restaurant in Sydney, a who’s who of the wine industry gathered to celebrate the winners and the NSW wine industry.

Minister for Primary Industries and State Development, Ian Macdonald, said that the 2009 winners were indicative of the strength and diversity of the NSW wine regions.

“The 2009 NSW Wine Awards show we have some of the world’s great winemakers and wines right here in NSW,” Macdonald said. “The 2009 NSW top 40 list includes 17 varieties of high quality wines sourced from 31 different wineries located across six different regions, proving that NSW wines can deliver on every level. I encourage NSW wine consumers to show their loyalty to our industry by buying from the 2009 Top 40 ahead of interstate or overseas wines”.

Macdonald also pointed out that only 6.3 percent of wine sold in NSW bottle shops is actually grown, made and bottled in NSW.

“While sales of NSW wines in bottle shops grew 12.6 per cent last year, bringing an additional $6.6 million income into the State, we need NSW consumers to be more parochial and buy local," he said. "With the 2009 Top 40 list, there’s never been a better time to have a look in our own backyard to rediscover some of the world’s great wines and also to uncover some of the new varieties and wineries NSW has to offer.”

The 12 trophy winners announced on the night were:

NSW Wine of the Year and Best Young Chardonnay – Brokenwood 2007 ‘Forest Edge’ Chardonnay (Orange)
Best Sparkling – Charles Sturt University 2005 Limited Release Pinot Noir Chardonnay (Tumbarumba)
Best Young Riesling – Yass Valley 2009 Riesling (Canberra)
Best Young Sauvignon Blanc – Printhie 2009 ‘Mountain Range’ Sauvignon Blanc (Orange)
Best Young Semillon – Hungerford Hill 2007 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
Best Young White Other Varieties – Westend Estate 2008 ‘Richland’ Viognier (Riverina) 
Best Mature Dry White – Allandale 2003 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
Best Young Shiraz – Ridgeview 2006 ‘Generations’ Reserve Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Best Young Red Other Varieties – Grove Estate 2007 ‘Sommita’ Nebbiolo (Hilltops)
Best Young Red Blend – Westend Estate 2008 Cabernet Shiraz (Riverina) 
Best Mature Dry Red – Freeman Vineyards 2004 Rondinella Corvina (Hilltops)
Best Sweet White – Lerida Estate 2008 Botrytis Pinot Gris (Canberra) 

The Shout Team

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