L-R: Lucy Willson and Rebecca Willson of Bremerton Wines, with Greg Follett and Tim Follett of Lake Breeze Wines. Photo: John Krüger
Two long-established family wineries have taken home the top awards at this year’s Langhorne Creek Wine Show, with Bremerton Wines winning Champion Wine of Show and Lake Breeze Wines recognised as Producer of the Year and Grape Grower of the Year.
Headed up by sisters Rebecca and Lucy Willson, Bremerton Wines’s 2023 Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded the Best Cabernet Sauvignon trophy and ultimately took home the Champion Wine of Show.
For the second year in a row, winemaker Rebecca Willson’s Bremerton 2022 Special Release Graciano also took out the trophy for best red or white made from alternative varieties.
Meanwhile, Lake Breeze Wines and winemaker Greg Follett won a total of six trophies, including the trophy for Producer of the Year. Greg’s brother and Lake Breeze vineyard manager Tim Follett was also named Grape Grower of the Year, in recognition of his contribution to the Langhorne Creek region.
Lake Breeze’s other trophies included the Best Sparkling Wine, White Wine or Rosé trophy for the Lake Breeze 2024 Pecorino; the Best Blended Red Wine trophy for the Lake Breeze 2023 Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Malbec; the Best Shiraz trophy for the Lake Breeze 2023 Section 54 Shiraz; the Best Malbec trophy for the Lake Breeze 2022 Malbec; and the Best Museum or Fortified trophy for the Lake Breeze 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chair of judges Sue Bell was joined by wine writer Jane Faulkner and Greg Clack from XO Wine Co, as well as associate judges Alexandra Alavoine from Kirrihill Wines and Brett Woodward from Saddler’s Creek Wines.
Bell’s chair of judges trophy this year went to the W Salter & Son’s 2024 Pepperjack Grenache Rosé.
“While we always expect great Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Shiraz from Langhorne Creek, certain white varieties and rosés are also showing great promise,” Bell said.
“This year’s rosé class was particularly strong with several excellent examples of wines with both freshness and complexity, made from a diverse selection of varieties.”
The awards ceremony on Friday 9 May saw 200 grapegrowers, winemakers, trade, suppliers and winery staff celebrate the Langhorne Creek wine region in a marquee on the lawns of Bleasdale Vineyards.
2025 LANGHORNE CREEK WINE SHOW TROPHY WINNERS
BEST SPARKLING WINE, WHITE WINE OR ROSÉ – Lake Breeze 2024 Pecorino
BEST BLENDED RED WINE – Lake Breeze 2023 Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Malbec
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON – Bremerton 2023 Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SHIRAZ – Lake Breeze 2023 Section 54 Shiraz
BEST MALBEC – Lake Breeze 2022 Malbec
BEST RED OR WHITE WINE MADE FROM ALTERNATIVE OR OTHER VARIETY(S) – Bremerton 2022 Special Release Graciano
BEST MUSEUM OR FORTIFIED WINE – Lake Breeze 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
CHAIR OF JUDGES AWARD – W Salter & Son 2024 Pepperjack Grenache Rosé
CHAMPION WINE OF THE SHOW – Bremerton 2023 Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Lake Breeze Wines
GRAPE GROWER OF THE YEAR – Tim Follett
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