By Andy Young
The International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), this week named the world’s best winemaker, with Australia’s McGuigan Wines, taking the title for a record fourth time.
McGuigans was named International Winemaker of Year, ahead of competition from wine producing nations around the world, including France, Spain, Italy and the United States. Having previously won the award in 2009, 2011 and 2012, McGuigan Wines becomes the first winemaker in the world to receive the title four times.
McGuigan Wines’ Chief Winemaker, Neil McGuigan, was understandably proud and delighted with the award.
“To be the only winery crowned International Winemaker of the Year four times is extremely humbling,” Neil said. “I am immensely proud of this achievement and what this award means for Australia and McGuigan Wines. These awards are as much for the Australian wine industry as they are for us. Every time an Australian wine or producer is acknowledged at an international wine competition it puts our products on the map and forces people to sit up and take notice. We continue to be incredibly honoured to represent Australia on the world stage.
“Every day you need to have the ambition to craft beautiful, quality wine and make it the hero. This award – and our trophies – is vindication and recognition of this vision. We have a long-standing association with Hunter Valley Semillon, and we’re incredibly proud of it, but we’re now gaining recognition for our super-premium reds thanks to their incredible flavour, lightness, elegance and longevity – which is something I’ve championed for years.”
A successful night for McGuigan Wines saw the company collect two trophies for the 2003 McGuigan BIN 9000 Semillon (Semillon Trophy) and the 2007 McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz (Syrah Trophy). This is the sixth year in a row McGuigan Wines has been awarded the Semillon Trophy.
In total, McGuigan Wines received two Trophies, three Gold Outstanding; one Gold, six Silver Outstanding, twenty-four Silver and twelve Bronze at the IWSC.
The night saw other trophy successes for Australian producers with All Saints Estate Winery collecting the Fortified Wine Trophy for its All Saints Estate Classic Rutherglen Muscat NV. Also Archie Rose won the Best Packaging Design Range of the Year for the Archie Rose White Rye, Archie Rose Original Vodka and Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin.