Registrations are now open for the 13th annual Young Gun of Wine, designed to find, celebrate and showcase Australia’s young and emerging winemakers.

Focussed on giving a platform to winemakers on the rise, the Young Gun of Wine is open to Australian winemakers up to 45 years old who make all sorts of wine, including traditional wine, experimental wine, biodynamic, natural, orange/amber, single vineyard, blended, sparkling and fortified. In the words of 2018 judge Mike Bennie, the award seeks to acknowledge “diversity, creativity, deliciousness, transparency of winemaking, wines that thrill for personality and reflection of winemaker and place”.

Winemakers who have registered before are invited to jump in again.

In a new addition to the program in 2019, every producer entering has the option of showing their wines at a trade and consumer event before the end of 2018.

After 12 years of consumer events, Young Gun of Wine has added ‘Wineslinger’ and trade tasting events to its program to provide further connection between sommeliers, merchants and winemakers. And, the roadshow is going to Brisbane for the first time.

“I attended the events originally as a sommelier to find new wines for my venue’s list. The last two years I’ve started showing my wines at Young Gun of Wine,” said Liam O’Brien, sommelier at Cutler & Co, and winemaker at Athletes of Wine. “And if I wasn’t attending in a professional capacity, I’d be there as a punter. Whoever you are, the events are the place for new Aussie wines.”

2018 Young Gun of Wine winner Rob Mack, of Aphelion, says the Young Gun of Wine is “a platform to put your brand on the national stage”. “Just being part of the showcase allows you access to pour at amazing venues to people who are genuinely interested in your wine and story. Progress further in the events, and many doors to the best trade in the country swing open to you.”

Mack will join the Young Gun of Wine tasting panel in 2019.

Discounted early bird registrations for the 2019 Young Gun of Wine are open until 10 August.

For further details about the upcoming showcase or to register, see the Registrations page at www.younggunofwine.com