Image sourced via Facebook @koernerwine
Following on from the recent Top 50 event, today the Young Guns of Wine have announced the final 12 winemakers contending for trophies in the 13th annual Young Gun of Wine Awards… the best-of-the-best young wine labels and winemakers on the rise for 2019.
The final 12 consist of three labels from South Australia, four from Victoria, four from Western Australia, and in good news for the Sunshine State, Andrew Scott from La Petite Morte in the Granite Belt region has secured the first ever Final 12 place for Queensland in Young Gun of Wine’s 13 year history!
Not only is there the top prize of the 2019 Riedel Young Gun of Wine to be won, there is the Best New Act, People’s Choice, the Winemaker’s Choice awards up for grabs.
So here it is, State-by-State, the final 12 for 2019 are:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Damon Koerner, Koerner Wine, Clare Valley
Sacha La Forgia, Adelaide Hills Distillery, Adelaide Hills
Vanessa Altmann, Switch Organic Wine, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale
VICTORIA
Ben Ranken, Wilimee, Macedon Ranges
Jayden Ong, Jayden Ong/One Block, Yarra Valley
Shaun Crinion, Dappled Wines, Yarra Valley
Simon Killeen, Simao & Co Wines, Rutherglen/North East Victoria
QUEENSLAND
Andrew Scott, La Petite Morte, Granite Belt
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Genevieve Mann & Rob Mann, Corymbia, Swan Valley
Liv Maiorana & Mijan Patterson from South by South West, Margaret River
Remi Guide from tripe.Iscariot, Margaret River
Rhys Parker & Paul Hoffman from Vallée du Venom, Margaret River/Swan Valley.
The panel for 2019 include Rory Kent (Founder of YGOW), Nick Stock (Chief Panellist, Gourmet Traveller WINE), Mike Bennie (Delicious), Pip Anderson (MONA), Josephine Perry of Dormilona (2016 Young Gun of Wine winner), Rob Mack of Aphelion Wine Co (2018 Young Gun of Wine winner), Penny Grant (Ghanem Group Sommelier – BlackBird Brisbane and Donna Chang), and international guest judge Leah Rinaldi from USA’S leading distributor of natural wines, Jenny & Francois, who have each tasted over 250 wines over two days at King & Godfree to determine the finalists.
In the countdown to the Final 12 Trophy presentation there will be a People’s Choice event held in Sydney on Thursday May 30 at 6pm, and in Melbourne on Saturday June 1 at 12pm.
The overall winners of the various trophies will be announced at the Young Gun of Wine Awards held on June 3, an invitation-only presentation, to be held in Adelaide for the first time in the 13 year history of The Awards.
Young Gun of Wine founder, Rory Kent said:
“We’re tremendously excited to bring the awards to Adelaide for the first time in our 13 year history. It’s long overdue. South Australia has shown to be the creative heart of Australian winemaking. Each year, around half the wines submitted for our tasting panel come from South Australia and if you look at the final results since 2007, South Australia have taken eight of top 12 annual trophies.”
The winner of the First Drop Danger Zone – going to the most adventurous wine from the entire show – will also be announced on the night.
It’s Now the People’s Choice (Yes, you!)
The Final 12 winemakers are going to Sydney and Melbourne, on Thursday May 30 and Saturday June 1. These events are hosted by leading wine purveyors, Best Cellars (Sydney) and City Wine Shop (Melbourne).
Tickets are strictly limited at $55 (or $45 for earlybirds) and include all tasting and a Riedel wineglass to keep.
Click here for the Sydney event and here for the Melbourne event.
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