Xanadu wins the Jimmy Watson

Margaret River winery Xanadu won the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, presented on Thursday night (October 18). The award, which recognises the best young red, went to the 2016 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon, which also won the trophy for Best Cabernet, Merlot and Associated Varieties.

Tasmanian wines claimed a number of trophies on the night, with the 2018 Eddystone Point Riesling, 2008 House of Arras Grand Vintage Chardonnay Pinot Noir and 2017 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir each winning their respective varietal trophies. And the 2017 Tolpuddle Chardonnay, also from Tasmania, collected four trophies – Best Chardonnay, Best Single Vineyard Wine and Best Young White – with its vineyard manager, Carlos Souris, also winning the trophy for Viticultural Excellence.

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy remains one of the most highly sought-after awards in the industry, and the prize includes $15,000 towards wine-related travel.

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