Tyrrell’s Wines vineyards in the Hunter Valley. Image courtesy Tyrrell’s Wines
Hunter Valley producer Tyrrell’s Wines has claimed three major trophies at the 2024 Royal Adelaide Wine and Spirit Awards.
Their Vat 1 Semillon, one of Australia’s most celebrated white wines, won the George Fairbrother Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding white wine in show, sponsored by Duxton Capital Australia.
The family-owned winery also received The Gramp, Hardy, Hill-Smith Prize for National Wine of Provenance for their Steven’s Semillon. Head winemaker Andrew Spinaze was additionally recognised with The F Miller & Co Prize for Winemaker of the National Wine of Provenance.
Western Australian producer Devil’s Lair took home the prestigious Max Schubert AM Trophy for the most outstanding red wine in show with their Cabernet Sauvignon. This follows their earlier win for Best Red Wine in Show at the 2024 National Wine Show of Australia.
Jim Barry Wines secured the Governor’s Trophies for both Best South Australian White and Red in Show, with their Florita Riesling and Barry Brothers GSM, respectively.
The TAFE SA Trophy for Champion Spirit in Show went to St Agnes Distiller for their St Agnes XO, Distilled. This achievement caps off a successful year for the Riverland Distillery, which was also named Australia’s Champion Distiller at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.
“The Royal Adelaide Wine and Spirit Awards attract some of Australia’s finest wines, and with more than 2,200 entries from across the country, the competition was outstanding once again this year,” said Greg Follett, chair of the Royal Adelaide Wine Committee.
“Tyrell’s Wines’ Vat 1 Semillon is truly outstanding, consistently winning awards year after year for good reason.
“It’s always exciting to see such a diverse range of wineries among the full winners list, highlighting the breadth and quality of Australian winemaking.
“It has been a challenging time for the industry and there will be more challenges ahead, but this year’s entries show that we are still producing some of the best wine and spirits in the world.”
Award | Sponsor | Name of Trophy | Winning Exhibitor | |
MAJOR TROPHIES | ||||
Most Outstanding White Wine in Show | Duxton Capital Australia | The George Fairbrother Memorial Trophy | Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd | Vat 1 Semillon 2017 |
Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show | CCL Label | The Max Schubert AM Trophy | Devil’s Lair Pty Ltd | Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 |
National Wine of Provenance | RA&HS | The Gramp, Hardy, Hill-Smith Prize | Tyrrel’s Vineyards | Stevens Semillon 2023, 2018, 2011 |
Best South Australian White Wine in Show | Government House | The Governor’s Trophy | Jim Barry Wines | Jim Barry The Florita Riesling 2023 |
Best South Australian Red Wine in Show | Government House | The Governor’s Trophy | Jim Barry Wines | Jim Barry Barry & SonsGSM 2022 |
SPIRIT AWARDS | TafeSA | The TafeSA Trophy | St Agnes Distillery | St Agnes XO |
SPIRIT AWARDS | ||||
Champion Rum | Bentley Consulting | The Bentley Consulting Trophy Champion Rum | Mad Monkey Distillery | Pure Single Rum – Ex Australian Whisky Cask |
Champion Other Spirit | Cospak | The Cospak Trophy Champion Other Spirit | Ragazzi e Succo Aperitivo?s | Ragazzi e Succo Amaro |
Champion Brandy | Seguin Moreau | The R.G. (Bob) Hardy Trophy Champion Brandy | St Agnes Distillery | St Agnes XO |
Champion Whiskey | Bintani Australia | The Bintani Australia Trophy Champion Whiskey | Starward Whisky Distillery | Nova |
Champion Gin | Multi Colour Corporation | The Multi Colour Corporation Trophy Champion Gin | Prohibition Liquor Co | Prohibition Liquor Co Juniperus Gin |
Champion Small Batch | Tarac Technologies | The Tarac Technologies Trophy Champion Small Batch | Amber Lane Distillery | Alchemical Series – Air |
WINE AWARDS | ||||
Best Sparkling Wine in Show | DIAM / Vinocor | The Hurtle and Norman Walker Trophy | Heemskerk Wines | Heemskerk Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sparkling 2015 |
Best Apera Topaque, or Sweet White in Show | Quest King William South | The John Fornachon Memorial Trophy | Morris Wines | NV Old Premium Rare Topaque |
Best Australian Vintage, Tawny or Ruby in Show | Solstice Media | The InDaily Trophy | Seppeltsfield Wines Pty Ltd | Seppeltsfield Para Rare Tawny |
Best Sweet White Table Wine in Show | Braud Australia | The Braud Australia Trophy | De Bortoli Wines | Deen De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon 2020 |
Best Riesling in Show | AWRI Affinity Labs | The Affinity Labs Trophy | Jim Barry Wines | Jim Barry The Florita Riesling 2023 |
Best Sauvignon Blanc in Show | Arkaba Hotel | The Arkaba Cellars Trophy | Simon Tolley Wines | Simon Tolley 2024 |
Best Semillon in Show | Finlaysons | The Finlaysons Trophy | Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd | Vat 1 Semillon 2017 |
Best Chardonnay in Show | Seguin Moreau | The Seguin Moreau Trophy | Capel Vale Winery | Black Label Chardonnay 2023 |
Best Other Varietal White in Show | Programmed Property Services | The Programmed Property Services Trophy | Hahndorf Hill Winery | Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner 2024 |
Best Dry White Blend in Show | BDO | The BDO Trophy | Willow Bridge Estate | Willow Bridge Bookends Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2023 |
Best Rose’ in Show | Piper Alderman | The Piper Alderman Trophy | Barossa Valley Estate | Rose 2024 |
Best Pinot Noir in Show | Lallemand | The Lallemand Australia Trophy | Bay of Fires Wines | Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2023 |
Best Grenache in Show | Tillbrook Rasheed | The Tillbrook Rasheed Trophy | Chalk Hill Wines | Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache 2023 |
Best Other Red Blend in Show | Radoux Australia | The Radoux Australia Trophy | Jim Barry Wines | Jim Barry Barry & Sons GSM 2022 |
Best Other Varietal Red in Show | David C Dridan OAM | The Karl Seppelt AO Trophy | Purple Hands Wines | After Five Wine Co. Barossa Valley Montepulciano 2022 |
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show | Vili’s | The Professor AJ Perkins Trophy | Devil’s Lair Pty Ltd | Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 |
Best Traditional Australian Red Blend in Show | Fassina Liquor | The Dr Ray Beckwith OAM Memorial Trophy | Majella Wines | Majella Wines The Musician 2022 |
Best Shiraz 2022 Vintage and Younger | Doreau Australia Pty Ltd. | The Doreau Australia Trophy | Forester Estate | Forester Estate Lifestyle Shiraz 2023 |
Best Shiraz 2021 Vintage and Older | Pellenc Australia | The Pellenc Australia Trophy | Paragon Wine Estates | D Block Shingleback Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021 |
Best Shiraz in Show | Wine Communicators of Australia, SA Chapter | The Wine Communicators Of Australia, SA Chapter Trophy | Forester Estate | Forester Estate Lifestyle Shiraz 2023 |
Winemaker of the National Wine of Provenance | F. Miller & Co | The F Miller & Co Prize | Andrew Spinaze, Tyrrell’s Vineyards |