Murdoch Hill, an Adelaide Hills winery, has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at the National Wine Show in Canberra last night for their 2022 Rocket Chardonnay, marking it as the best wine in Australia.
The National Wine Show is Australia’s premier wine competition. Only wines that have previously won gold or silver medals at other qualifying shows can compete, ensuring that only the “best of the best” are judged.
The Prime Minister’s Trophy, presented by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlights the outstanding quality of the winning wine.
The 2022 Rocket Chardonnay won three trophies in total: the Chardonnay Trophy, the Len Evans Memorial White Wine of Show Trophy, and the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show. It’s journey to the top began with a Gold Medal at the prestigious 2023 Royal Sydney Wine Show.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to receive such a recognition, especially considering the high calibre of wines and the rigorous process of judging. To receive the Champion Trophy in the Capital is simply thrilling,” Murdoch Hill’s Chief Winemaker, Michael Downer, said.
“All the stars aligned to make this exceptional wine. The Rocket is the culmination of years of refinement in the vineyard and winery to craft the highest quality chardonnay possible.
“The introduction of a greater portion of grapes from our Lenswood vineyard brings drive and complexity, while a smaller portion of fruit from high in Piccadilly Valley brings poise and refinement to the wine.”
In recent years, the top award has gone to Victorian wines and usually to a shiraz. Murdoch Hill’s victory is an incredible achievement for the state, as it’s the first time in five years a wine from SA has won the Champion Wine Trophy at the National Wine Show.
The win follows Murdoch Hill’s previous honour of “Shiraz of the Year” at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards, demonstrating their outstanding expertise across different wine varieties.
Murdoch Hill is a small, family-owned winery. Its success with the Rocket Chardonnay showcases the excellence that can come from smaller producers.
“It is such a delight to see Adelaide Hills Chardonnay stand up and be counted as the best of the best. To say I am over the moon with the success of our 2022 Rocket Chardonnay is an understatement,” Michael Downer said.
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