Reillys Wines’ owner and winemaker Justin Ardill (left), accepting the trophy for Champion Small Winery of Show from ASWS’ president, Chris Doig. Image courtesy Australian Small Winemakers Show
Clare Valley winery Reillys Wines has been crowned the country’s best small winery at the 2024 Australian Small Winemakers Show (ASWS).
The comes on top of two additional trophies for the Mintaro-based winery, as well as eight medals—three gold, two silver and three bronze.
The 11 awards were presented to Reillys Wines’ owner and winemaker Justin Ardill at the ASWS Gala Dinner in Stanthorpe, Queensland last Friday evening (25 October 2024), with the Champion Small Winery gong considered the show’s ultimate honour.
Established in 1987 and exclusively open to small wineries crushing less than 500 tonnes, the ASWS pays tribute to the technical excellence and innovation of small winemakers and is recognised as the most influential wine show of its kind in Australia.
“We are incredibly humbled to be recognised as the best small winery in Australia and have our 2024 Watervale Riesling voted by the team of judges as not only the best South Australian white wine, but to receive the trophy for the Champion White Wine in the nation,” said Justin Ardill, Reillys Wines’ owner and winemaker.
“It’s a tribute to our winegrowing and winemaking philosophy of producing premium wines, in low-yielding vineyards and with minimum intervention, that allows the quality of the fruit to truly shine – and [it is] just rewarding for our viticulturist behind this great Reisling, our great friend Robert Smyth, to be honoured with the Champion Viticulturist of Show trophy.
“And given the ASWS’ high standing, with more than 700 wines from over 130 wineries across the length and breadth of Australia judged by wine industry icons before medals and trophies are awarded, it is another significant feather in the cap of the Clare Valley, further cementing our status as the premium Riesling-producing region in Australia,” he added.
The standout 2024 Watervale Reisling is 100 percent Watervale-produced, with the fruit originating from Robert Smyth’s 50-year-old low-cropping vineyard.
The full results from the Australian Small Winemakers Show are available here.
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