Home Hill Wines Steels the Show for Tassie at Royal Melbourne Wine Awards

Winners of the highly anticipated Royal Melbourne Wine Awards were announced on Thursday night, October 11.

Taking out first place was Tasmanian winery, Home Hill Wines, which received the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red, as well as the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir.

Home Hill Wines was one of only eight wineries to receive a Major Trophy at the awards; owners Rosemary and Terry Bennett’s 2014 Kelly’s Reserve Pinot Noir captivating judges’ palates.

Other trophy winners of the awards awards this year included TarraWarra Estate, Castanga, Oakridge Wines, Morris Wines, Innocent Bystander and Coldstream Hills, while the Barkala Ridge viticulture team, comprising David Bicknell, John Funder, Val Diamond, Mario Pagotto and Steve Sadlier picked up The Kym Ludvigson Trophy for Viticultural Excellence.

This year, entrants were judged by a panel of 35 wine industry experts, led by Chair of Judges Jim Chatto, who was impressed with the standard of the Major Trophy winning wines.

“In my 18 years of judging, I have never seen such a strong group of wines in the trophy taste-offs”, Chatto said.

The awards also handed out a further 15 Best in Class Trophies. The full list of winners can be seen below.

 

Major Trophy Winners

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Red Wine of the 2013 and 2014 Vintages

Home Hill Kelly’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 - Home Hill Wines, Ranelagh, TAS

The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir presented by Halliday Wine Companion

Home Hill Kelly’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 - Home Hill Wines, Ranelagh, TAS

The Victorian Trophy for White Wines of Provenance

TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay (2014, 2008, 2004) - TarraWarra Estate, Yarra Valley, VIC

The Victorian Trophy for Red Wines of Provenance

Castagna Genesis Syrah (2012, 2006, 2002) - Castagna, Beechworth, VIC

The Douglas Seabrook Single Vineyard Trophy

Oakridge Local Vineyard Series Barkala Ridge Chardonnay 2013 - Oakridge Wines, Yarra

Valley, VIC

The Kym Ludvigson Trophy for Viticultural Excellence

Barkala Ridge Viticulture Team - David Bicknell, John Funder, Val Diamond, Mario Pagotto

and Steve Sadlier

The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified in Show

Morris Cellar Reserve Grand Liqueur Tokay, NV Muscadelle - Morris Wines, Rutherglen, VIC

The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz

Mea Culpa Syrah 2014 - Innocent Bystander, Yarra Valley, VIC

The Franḉois De Castella Trophy for Best Young White Wine

Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2014 - Coldstream Hills, Yarra Valley, VIC

 

Best in Class Trophy Winners

The Dan Murphy’s Trophy for Best Vermouth

Castagna Classic Dry Vermouth, 2014 - Castagna, Beechworth, VIC

The Riedel Australia Trophy for Best Sparkling

Pirie Sparkling NV, Chardonnay Pinot Noir - Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard, TAS

The Riedel Australia Trophy for Best Riesling

Portrait Riesling, 2015 - Peter Lehmann Wines, Eden Valley, SA

The Kubota Tractors Australia Trophy for Best Chardonnay

Oakridge Local Vineyard Series, Barkala Ridge, 2013 Chardonnay - Oakridge Wines, Yarra

Valley, VIC

The Exponet Trophy for Best Semillon

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon, 2005 - Tyrrell’s Vineyards, Hunter, NSW

The Orora Closures Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc or Blend of Semillon &

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, 2015 - Domaine Naturaliste, Margaret River, WA

The Exponet Trophy for Best Single Varietal White Wine

Calabria Private Bin Pinot Bianco, 2014 - Calabria Family Wines, Riverina, NSW

The RASV Trophy for Best Sweet Wine

Epitome Late Harvest Riesling, 2013 - Longview Vineyard, Adelaide Hills, SA

The Australian United Professionals Trophy for Best Rosé

Head Wines Rosé Grenache, 2015 - Head Wines, Barossa Valley, SA

The Australian United Professionals Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or

Blend Of Bordeaux Varieties

Deep Woods ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 - Deep Woods Estate, Margaret River, WA

The Dan Murphy’s Trophy for Best Single Varietal Red Wine

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Malbec, 2013 - Wolf Blass Wines, Nuriootpa, SA

The Orora Glass Trophy for Best Grenache, Red Rhone Varietal or Blend of Red

Rhone Varieties

S.C. Pannell Grenache Shiraz Touriga, 2014 - S.C. Pannell Wines, McLaren Vale, SA

The Kubota Tractors Australia Trophy for Best Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz, 2013 - The Yalumba Wine Company,

Barossa Valley, SA

The Portavin Integrated Wine Services Trophy for Best Red Blend

S.C. Pannell Tempranillo Touriga, 2014 - S.C. Pannell Wines, McLaren Vale, SA

The RASV Trophy for Best Mature Wine

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon, 2005 - Tyrrell’s Vineyards, Hunter, NSW