2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards Results

Celebratory Kissing underneath the Mistletoe

The nine Trophy Winners in the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards will be presented with their awards on Monday 17th October at the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards Presentation Dinner at Guillaume at Bennelong in the Sydney Opera House.

These Trophy winners were chosen from the NSW Top 40 Wines, which were selected by a panel of 20 highly regarded wine judges, Chaired by one of the country’s leading wine experts Huon Hooke, who whittled down over 820 wines to this impressive shortlist.

And the winners are…

• Trophy Best Young Chardonnay ~ Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter ($40)
• Trophy Best Young Semillon ~ Two Rivers 2011 Stones Throw Semillon, Hunter ($16)
• Trophy Best Mature Dry White ~ Thomas Wines 2006 Cellar Reserve Braemore Semillon, Hunter ($45)
• Trophy Best Young Shiraz ~ First Creek Wines Winemakers Reserve 2010 Shiraz, Hunter ($42)
• Trophy Best Young Cabernet ~ Winburndale Wines 2008 Fontana Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Ranges ($30)
• Trophy Best Young Red Other Variety ~ Logan 2009 Weemala Merlot, Central Ranges ($18)
• Trophy Best Young Red Blend ~ Logan 2009 Cabernet Merlot, Orange ($25)
• Trophy Best Mature Dry Red ~ Freeman Vineyards Secco Aged Release 2004 Rondinella Corvina, Hilltops ($75)
• Trophy Best Sweet White ~ De Bortoli 2008 Noble One, Riverina ($64)

The results reflect the great performance of Orange and the Central Ranges in this year’s Top 40, with 3 Trophies going to wines from that area, alongside 4 from the Hunter and one each from the Riverina and Hilltops.

Of these nine wines, only one can be given the ultimate title of 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year…and this year that honour goes to…

2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the year ~ Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter Valley

Mistletoe Wines is a wonderful example of the family businesses which dominate NSW winemaking (family owned wineries account for over 75% of the total NSW crush) and shower our vineyards with care and dedication, creating wines worthy of Top Class honours. Ken and Gwen Sloan started Mistletoe Wines in 1989 and have since been perfecting the art of producing high-quality Hunter Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay. This isn’t the first award for their 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, which earlier this year collected Gold at the 2011 Winewise Awards and 2011 Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show. And last year was awarded a Trophy for the Reserve Wine of Show at the 10th International Chardonnay Challenge in New Zealand (selected from over 400 Chardonnays from around the globe.) A truly world-class wine which has been described as “a wine with intense grapefruit and white-flesh stone fruit driving its exceptional long palate.”

Everyone will have the opportunity to taste the new 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year, Trophy Winners and Top 40 Wines at the Citibank NSW Wine Awards “Best of the Best Top 40” Tasting … Discover the “best of the best” wines from the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards, either in a small group guided by one of the State’s most talented winemakers or as a self-guided tour of NSW’s diverse wine regions.

When: Thursday 20 October 2011
Where: The Cargo Hall, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay
Trade/Media Tasting 2.00- 4.00pm Pre-registration compulsory at www.nswwine.com.au
Consumer Tasting 5.00- 9.00pm $55pp including wine, souvenir wine glass, winemaker guided tour & light refreshments

This event is part of Crave Sydney International Food Festival, presented by Citibank.

Book: Tickets can be purchased online at www.nswwine.com.au