By Amy Looker
Australian wineries struck gold at this year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) held in London, winning more gold medals than any other competing country.
Australia received an impressive 568 medals, including 27 gold ‘best in class’ medals and six gold medals, with the majority of medals going to the wines made from shiraz or semillon grapes.
Western Australia’s Capel Vale received a gold medal for its 2008 The Scholar Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and a gold best in class medal for its 2008 Whispering Hill Mount Barker Shiraz, while South Australia’s Hardys 2008 Eileen Pinot Noir won a gold best in class in its category.
Hardys chief winemaker, Paul Lapsley, was delighted with the gold best in class result at what he describes as “the United Nations of wine shows”, with entries coming from more than 80 countries.
“The Eileen Hardy Pinot Noir is a very complex style of pinot noir that really dances between New World and Old World in terms of flavour and structure,” he said. “The overall result is very good. It really shows the strength of our portfolio, in particular our four wines that achieved best in class.”
The IWSC Australian Wine Producer of the Year will be named at a gala dinner at London’s Guildhall on November 17.
Shortlisted for the award are Morris Wines, Chateau Tanunda, St Hallett, Peter Lehmann Wines, Yalumba and Stella Bella Wines.