TWE sweeps Royal Queensland Wine Show

By James Atkinson

Wolf Blass took out the top gong at the 2014 Royal Queensland Wine Show (RQWS) overnight, with several of Treasury Wine Estates' other brands also picking up trophies.

The 2012 Wolf Blass Picadilly Reserve Chardonnay, produced by Wolf Blass Wines in South Australia, has been named Grand Champion Wine of Show taking out The Courier Mail Trophy. 

Chief Judge PJ Charteris, with his team of expert judges, tasted more than 2076 wines from 270 Australian wineries before they crowned Australia’s best.  

He said the 2012 Wolf Blass Picadilly Reserve Chardonnay exhibits a particularly fine balance between fruit complexity and finesse. 

“When you get wine of this magnitude you’re looking for the perfect balance and precision, this winning Chardonnay had those key elements,” he said. 

The historical Stodart Trophy, which crowns the best young red of show, went to Nick O’Leary Wines for its 2013 Nick O’Leary Shiraz.

“This was a finer, elegant Shiraz which was fruit focused,” Charteris said.

Also from the TWE stable, the 2013 Jamieson’s Run Limestone Coast Sauvignon Blanc Semillon was named Best Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc Blend of Show.

And Lindemans Wines' 2014 Lindemans Bin 85 Pinot Grigio – typically priced at around $7 – won the Harry Brown Award for Pinot Gris of Show.

TWE's Leo Buring 2014 Leonay Riesling took out Best Young White of Show, while Rosemount's 2013 McLaren Vale GSM was named Best Grenache & Rhone style Red.

It was also a massive night for McWilliam's Wines, which picked up three trophies.

The full list of award winners is available below:

THE MALDWYN AND IAN DAVIES AWARD
Best Sparkling of Show
Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard, NV Pirie Sparkling 

THE BRISBANE CLUB AWARD
For the Best Riesling of Show
De Bortoli Wines, 2011 Yarra Valley Reserve Release Riesling

THE TMPOS AWARD
For the Best Sauvignon Blanc of Show
Australian Vintage, 2013 Nepenthe Petraea Sauvignon Blanc 

THE LUIGI BORMIOLI AWARD
For the Best Semillon of Show
McWilliam’s Wines, 2009 Mt Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 

THE CSG PRINT SERVICES AWARD
For the Best Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc Blend of show
Jamieson’s Run, 2013 Jamieson’s Run Limestone Coast Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 

THE A.O FLEMING AWARD
For the Best Chardonnay of Show
Wolf Blass Wines, 2012 Wolf Blass Picadilly Reserve Chardonnay 

THE HARRY BROWN AWARD
For the Pinot Gris of Show
Lindemans Wines, 2014 Lindemans Bin 85 Pinot Grigio 

THE STUART HORNERY AWARD
For the Best Other Single White Varietal of Show
Symphony Hill Wines, 2013 Symphony Hill Wines Gewurztraminer 

Best Sweet White of Show
d’Arenberg, 2011 d’Arenberg The Noble Wrinkled 

Best Young White of Show
Leo Buring, 2014 Leonay Riesling 

Best Mature White of Show
McWilliam’s Wines, 2009 Mt Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 

Best Single Vineyard White of Show
McWilliam’s Wines, 2009 Mt Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 

RNA Best White of Show
Wolf Blass Wines, 2012 Wolf Blass Picadilly Reserve Chardonnay 

2014 Queensland Wine Winemaker Bursary
Warren Smith of Pyramid Road Wines 

THE UBS WEALTH MANAGEMENT TROPHY
Best Rose of Show  
Shingleback, 2014 Shingleback Haycutters Salmon Rose

THE ACCOR TROPHY
Best Pinot Noir of Show  
Yabby Lake, 2013 Yabby Lake Block 2 Pinot Noir

THE MILNER LAWYERS TROPHY
Best Grenache & Rhone style Red of Show
Rosemount Estates, 2013 Rosemount McLaren Vale GSM

THE REWARD DISTRIBUTION GROUP TROPHY
Best Merlot of Show
Smith and Hooper Wines, 2012 Smith and Hooper Reserve Merlot

THE ALAN COOK MBE TROPHY
Best Bordeaux Blend of Show
Blue Pyrenees Estate, 2012 Blue Pyrenees Estate Red 

THE WINE GUILD OF AUSTRALIA INC (QLD) TROPHY
Best Shiraz/Cabernet Blend of Show
Jim Barry Wines, 2013 The Barry Brothers 

THE JOHN CHANDLER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Best Other Single Varietal Red of Show
Serafino Wines, 2013 Serafino Bellissimo Tempranillo

THE FLINDERS GROUP TROPHY
Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show
Palmer Wines, 2010 Palmer Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

THE BRISBANE CLUB TROPHY
Best Shiraz of Show
Nick O’Leary Wines, 2013 Nick O’Leary Shiraz

Best Other Red Blend of Show
Rosemount Estates, 2012 Rosemount Nursery Project GMG

Best Mature Red of Show
Palmer Wines, 2010 Palmer Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Single Vineyard Red of Show
Seville Estate, 2012 Seville Estate Old Vine Reserve Shiraz

RNA Best Red of Show
Nick O’Leary Wines, 2013 Nick O’Leary Shiraz

Best Fortified Muscat or White of Show
Morris Wines, Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque

Best Fortified Red of Show
Penfolds Wines, Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny

Best Brandy of Show
St Agnes Distillery, St Agnes XO

THE COOPER GRACE WARD LAWYERS TROPHY
For the Best QLD Wine of Show
Symphony Hill Wines, 2013 Symphony Hill Wines Gewurztraminer 

THE JOHN G MARCHANT MEMORIAL TROPHY
For the Most Successful Queensland Exhibitor of Show
Symphony Hill Wines

THE DAN O’CONNOR TROPHY
For the Most Successful Exhibitor of Show
Wolf Blass Wines

THE STODART TROPHY
For the Best Young Red of Show
Nick O’Leary Wines, 2013 Nick O’Leary Shiraz

THE COURIER MAIL TROPHY
The Grand Champion Wine of Show Trophy
Wolf Blass Wines, 2012 Wolf Blass Picadilly Reserve Chardonnay