The State’s best wines have been honoured at the 2009 NSW Wine Awards in Sydney.
Hunter winery Brokenwood won the coveted “NSW Wine of the Year” for its 2007 'Forest Edge' Chardonnay produced with grapes sourced from Orange.
The NSW Government supports the NSW Wine Awards through Industry & Investment NSW and sponsored two award categories.
The Graham Gregory Trophy for an outstanding contribution to the NSW wine industry was awarded to Mudgee wine industry pioneer and champion Eric ‘Gil’ Wahlquist.
And one of Mudgee’s pioneering wineries, Thistle Hill, won the inaugural Best NSW Organic Wineaward with its 2009 Riesling, beating a field of 34 organic wines from 10 wineries across NSW.
Minister for Primary Industries and State Development Ian Macdonald said all the 2009 wine award winners demonstrate the strength and diversity of the NSW wine industry.
“The 2009 NSW Wine Awards show we have some of the world’s great winemakers and wines right here in NSW,” Mr Macdonald said.
“The 2009 NSW Top 40 list includes 17 varieties of high quality wines sourced from 31 different wineries located across six different regions, proving that NSW wines can deliver on every level.
“I encourage NSW wine consumers to show their loyalty to our industry by buying from the 2009 Top 40 ahead of interstate or overseas wines.”
Mr Macdonald said only 6.3 per cent of wine sold in NSW bottle shops is actually grown, made and bottled in our State.
“While sales of NSW wines in bottle shops grew 12.6 per cent last year, bringing an additional $6.6 million income into the State, we need NSW consumers to be more parochial and buy local.”
Mr Macdonald said the NSW wine industry - Australia’s second largest - is one of the State’s most important contributors to the national economy representing 34 per cent of the $5 billion national wine industry and turning over more than $1.5 billion annually.
“NSW has plenty to be proud of when it comes to wine,” Mr Macdonald said.
“Back in 1983 we had just 76 wine producers but now we have over 450 across 14 regions. Australia’s two most popular varieties - chardonnay and shiraz - had their start here in NSW.
“The NSW industry supports about 20,000 direct and indirect employees and NSW wineries attract an estimated 4.1 million visitors each year, generating expenditure of more than $350 million.
“NSW is also home to seven of Australia’s top 20 exporters with $572 million worth of the State’s best exported last year alone.
“We also boast seven of Australia’s 24 landmark wines - as chosen by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation - from makers such as De Bortoli, Clonakilla and Tyrrell’s.
“With the 2009 Top 40 list, there’s never been a better time to have a look in our own backyard to rediscover some of the world’s great wines and also to uncover some of the new varieties and wineries NSW has to offer.”
2009 NSW Wine Awards - “Top 40” list and Trophy Winners by region
- Angullong 2008 Fossil Hill Shiraz Viognier (Orange)
- Brokenwood Wines 2007 'Forest Edge' Chardonnay (Orange) – Best Young Chardonnay/NSW Wine of the Year
- Printhie 2009 'Mountain Range' Sauvignon Blanc (Orange) - Best Young Sauvignon Blanc
- Briar Ridge Vineyard 2009 Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Hunter/Orange)
- Allandale Winery 2003 Semillon (Hunter Valley) - Best Mature Dry White
- Audrey Wilkinson 2006 Museum Reserve Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Audrey Wilkinson 2009 'The Ridge' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Briar Ridge Vineyard 2009 'Homestead' Verdelho (Hunter Valley)
- De Iuliis Wines 2008 Show Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
- Gartelmann 2003 Reserve Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Glandore Estate 2006 'Elliott' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Hungerford Hill 2007 Semillon (Hunter Valley) - Best Young Semillon
- Tempus Two 2007 'Copper Zenith' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Mcleish Estate 2009 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Meerea Park 2004 'Alexander Munro' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Mistletoe 2005 Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
- Pepper Tree 2007 Reserve 'Coquun' Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
- RidgeView 2006 'Generations' Reserve Shiraz (Hunter Valley) - Best Young Shiraz
- Swish Wines 2009 Warraroong Estate Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Swish Wines 2009 Warraroong Estate Verdelho (Hunter Valley)
- Two Rivers 2009 'Stones Throw' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Tyrrell's Vineyards 2005 'Stevens' Semillon (Hunter Valley)
- Bimbadgen Estate 2006 Botrytis Semillon (Riverina)
- Briar Ridge Vineyard 2008 Botrytis Semillon (Riverina)
- Westend Estate 2007 '3 Bridges' Durif (Riverina)
- Westend Estate 2008 'Richland' Viognier (Riverina) - Best Young White Other Varieties
- Lillypilly Wines 2002 Noble Blend (Riverina)
- Westend Estate 2008 Viognier (Riverina)
- Westend Estate 2008 Cabernet Shiraz (Riverina) - Best Young Red Blend
- Westend Estate 2008 'Richland' Merlot (Riverina/Hilltops)
- Grove Estate 2007 'Sommita' Nebbiolo (Hilltops) - Best Young Red Other Varieties
- Freeman Vineyards 2004 Rondinella Corvina (Hilltops) - Best Mature Dry Red
- Moppity Vineyards 2008 Shiraz (Hilltops)
- Chalkers Crossing 2006 Hilltops Shiraz (Hilltops)
- Charles Sturt University 2005 Limited Release Pinot Noir Chardonnay (Tumbarumba) – Best Sparkling
- Hungerford Hill 2008 'Higher Octave' Chardonnay (Tumbarumba)
- Helm Wines 2008 Premium Riesling (Canberra)
- Lerida Estate 2008 Botrytis Pinot Gris (Canberra) - Best Sweet White
- Nick O'Leary Wines 2008 Shiraz (Canberra)
- Yass Valley Wines 2009 Riesling (Canberra) – Best Young Riesling.