By Annette Shailer
The 11th annual Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine awards saw female winemakers take out two of the three categories at a dinner held at Astral Restaurant in Sydney last week.
Yalumba chief winemaker, Louisa Rose, won winemaker of the year, with judges impressed with her flagship Viognier, Yalumba The Virgilius and Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling.
A three-time finalist, Rose became only the second woman to win winemaker of the year beating seven other final contenders.
The Kemenys Medal, which encourages up-and-coming winemakers, was awarded to Clare Valley winemaker Helen McCarthy of Taylors.
McCarthy has general responsibility across Taylors wines and created the Jaraman range.
Celebrating the importance of leadership in the industry, the Len Evans Award was presented to the head of Australia’s oldest family winery, Robert Hill Smith of Yalumba.
Gourmet Traveller WINE editor, Judy Sarris, recognised the hard work that goes into winemaking and congratulated the three South Australian winners.
“South Australia is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to good winemaking, so it’s particularly fitting that all three winners hail from the southern state,” she said.