A Barossa Valley red from a small family-owned winery has been judged the best in the world at the London Wine Competition.
Kellermeister Wines 2015 Wild Witch Shiraz was also ranked the competition’s best Shiraz and best Australian wine. Wines from Australia dominated the show, winning 11 Gold medals and 31 per cent of all medals awarded.
Wild Witch retails for $A85 a bottle and scored 98 points to take out the competition’s top prize.
Kellermeister winemaker and owner Mark Pearce said he was “over the moon” with the global recognition, which comes seven years after Wild Witch was crowned the best shiraz in the world at the International Wine Challenge in London.
“Such a strong showing on the international stage is great for our state, our beautiful Barossa region and for Kellermeister – we’re thrilled,” he said.
Kellermeister Wines is a small family-owned winery established at Lyndoch in South Australia’s Barossa Valley in 1976.
The London Wine Competitionhonour adds to a string of recent accolades, including two gold medals at last year’s Syrah du Monde international wine competition in France where Kellermeister was ranked Australia’s best shiraz producer.
South Australia is consistently responsible for about 50 per cent of Australia’s annual production and 75 per cent of premium wine.
The Barossa Valley also produces world-renowned brands such as Penfolds Grange, Jacob’s Creek and Wolf Blass.
Only in its second year, the London Wine Competition looks beyond quality alone and judges entries based on value for money (25 per cent), packaging design (25 per cent) and quality (50 per cent).
It is part of a new wider London drinks awards initiative that also includes The London Spirit Competition and the London Beer Competition that look to reward and highlight market driven spirits and beer brands.
Judges at this year’s competition comprised 11 Masters of Wine, a Master Sommelier, key retail buyers and senior sommeliers from London’s fine dining scene.
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