Australia's best of the best wines

Each year, wineries are invited to submit their award-winning wines to the National Wine Show. These wines qualify for invitation by winning medals and trophies throughout the year at the regional and capital city wine shows, reflecting the best of the best from across the country. 

More than 1200 wines were entered into the 2018 show, with new chair of judges David Bicknell saying he could not recall a closer final judging process between the trophy contenders. “This year, the major awards were shared by 15 different producers across 11 different regions,” he says. “The major awards, as always, are just a small snapshot of the reality of what happened during judging. I cannot recall a show that I have been involved in where the final judging was so close between many different entries.” 

The Len Evans Memorial Trophy for the Best Wine of Show this year went to a white wine – the 2017 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Chardonnay ($55), which also won Best Chardonnay and White Wine of Show. Margaret River’s Xanadu also enjoyed success with its 2016 Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) winning its varietal trophy and Single Vineyard Dry Red and Red Wine of Show. 

“The breadth and depth of classes are a true indication of Australian winemaking skill,” David says.

19 of Australia’s best wines

Len Evans Memorial Trophy for Champion Wine of Show
2017 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Chardonnay

Best White of Show and Best Chardonnay
2017 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Chardonnay

Best Red of Show and Best Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Kit Stevens Memorial Trophy for Best Sparkling
2014 Coldstream Hills Pinot Chardonnay

Best Shiraz
2017 Clyde Park Estate Shiraz

Best Riesling
2017 Robert Oatley Signature Series Great Southern Riesling

Best Pinot Noir
2017 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir

Best Semillon
2013 Tyrrell’s Belford Semillon

Best Alternative Red
2017 Turkey Flat Grenache

Best Alternative White
2018 Hahndorf Hill White Mischief Gruner Veltliner

Best Blended Dry Red
2017 Bleasdale Vineyards Wellington Road GSM

Red Wine of Provenance
2017, 2010, 2007 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon

White Wine of Provenance
2018, 2012, 2005 Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling

Best Single Vineyard Dry Red
2016 Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Single Vineyard White
2017 Stella Bella Luminosa Chardonnay

Best Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
2018 Miles From Nowhere Sauvignon Blanc

Best Sweet White Wine
2016 Deen De Bortoli Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon

Best Rosé
2018 Mcguigan Cellar Select Rosé

Edgar Riek Memorial Trophy for Best Fortified Wine
Morris Wines Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque

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