The Smallwater Estate team (L-R): Remi Guise, John Small, Leeanne Hurrelbrink and Bruce Dukes. Image courtesy The Great Australian Shiraz Challenge

Western Australian winery Smallwater Estate has won the Best Shiraz of Show Trophy with its 2022 Smallwater Estate Shiraz and the Winetitles Trophy for best Western Australian Shiraz.

Event director, Julian McLean described the win as a “triumph”, and “a great result for a small winemaker and the WA Geographe wine region”.

This year’s event attracted over 320 entries from 53 regions, with Smallwater’s winning wine prevailing over strong competition, seen particularly from McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley.

Other notable results included Peter Lehmann Wines taking out—for its third year in a row—the Interpack Trophy for best Sparkling Shiraz of Show with its 2020 Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz.

The following trophies were also awarded for the 2024, 30^th Anniversary Challenge:

• Orora Glass Best South Australian Shiraz: Pepperjack 2022 Scotch Fillet Graded Shiraz
• Melbourne Royal Best Organic Shiraz: Baileys of Glenrowan 2019 Varley Organic Shiraz
• Saint Martin Oak Best Tasmanian Shiraz: Gala Estate 2023 Black Label Emerald Syrah
• Interpack Best Sparkling Shiraz of Show: 2020 Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz
• Winetitles Best Western Australia Shiraz: Smallwater Estate 2022 Shiraz
• Filchem Best Victorian Shiraz: Conforti Estate 2022 Heathcote Shiraz
• Leocatas Transport Best Shiraz over 5 years old: Sanguine Estate 2019 Progeny Shiraz
• MCC Labels Best New South Wales Shiraz: Thomas Wines Kiss 2023 Shiraz
• Winetitles Best ACT Shiraz: Lerida Estate2021 Cullerin Syrah

The 2024 Judging panel comprised of Jen Pfeiffer (chair) Jeni Port, Shavaughn Wells, Sarah Andrew, Justin Purser, and Steve Paul.

The Challenge is chaired by Tahbilk Group director Alister Purbrick, and provides an opportunity for Australia’s premier red winemakers to showcase their Shiraz, benchmark winemaking and regional points of differences, and aims to reinforce the reputation of the variety as a national and international wine icon.

Nationally, Shiraz plantings are considerably more than any other red varietal—the challenge for Australian winemakers is to effectively promote this variety.  Over the past 30 years, The Great Australian Shiraz Challenge has worked to play a role in raising industry, press and consumer awareness of Shiraz, both nationally and internationally.

For full details on 2024 trophy and medal winners, visit  www.shirazchallenge.com.au/results/

The 2024 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge was proudly supported by the following Companies:

Saint Martin, Orora Glass, Winetitles, MCC Labels, Leocatas Transport, Interpack, Filchem, Melbourne Royal

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