Image: Beresford Estate
A McLaren Vale wine has been crowned as the world’s best shiraz at the 2026 International Wine Challenge in the United Kingdom.
The 2023 Beresford Classic Shiraz, from McLaren Vale’s Beresford Estate, placed first out of 111 competitors in the shiraz category, positioning the bottle amongst the nation’s and the world’s best.
And costing just $25 a bottle, it might just be amongst the most affordable award-winning wines for South Aussie consumers.
The wine took home four trophies at the competition, including the coveted International Syrah Trophy – awarded to the highest performing shiraz in the world.
It received a staggering 97 points overall from judges, the second-highest score across all categories judged at the competition, granting a gold medal to the award-winning wine.
Head winemaker at Beresford Estate Wines, Natalie Cleghorn, said she’s proud of the results from the competition.
“We’re very excited that our shiraz has done so well on the world stage,” she said.
“The International Wine Challenge is a big competition with lots of wines all around the world, it’s all done through blind tastings and has to go through the palates of many judges and panels.
“For our wine to be as successful as it has been, it means a lot to the team and shows that our vineyards are strong.
“McLaren Vale is a wonderful place to grow grapes, and I would encourage everyone to head to our cellar door as well as the others there!”
Alongside the International Syrah Trophy, other honours bestowed upon the beverage include the South Australian Shiraz Trophy, the Australian Shiraz Trophy and the Australian Red Trophy, outperforming other entrants in its respective category across the nation.
Matured for a year-and-a-half, the wine exhibits a sweet, fruity aroma of blueberry, plum and blackcurrant, with notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla bean and white pepper.
Judges of the International Wine Challenge described the award-winning shiraz as “powerful, yet beautifully composed”.
“Our shiraz is a lovely example of a modern shiraz with lots of fruit power and punch,” Natalie said.
“It’s the sort of wine you could drink at a nice restaurant paired with a steak or slow-cooked meats.
“On the flip side, it’s also the type of wine one could easily take to a barbecue or gathering surrounded by friends and family.”
Other South Australian winners include Penfolds with their Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, which took home both the Australian and International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophies, and McLaren Vale’s MMAD VIneyard winning the Australian Grenache Trophy with their 2024 Grenache.
The Beresford Classic Shiraz 2023 can be purchased either directly through Beresford Estate’s Cellar Door, or at liquor retailers across the country.
To get your hands on the award-winning drop and find out more, click here.
Beresford Estate
Where: 252 Blewitt Springs Road, McLaren Flat
