Something remarkable has happened for a very talented crew of South Australian winemakers. Cool climate white wines crafted in the Adelaide Hills have risen to the top of one of the world’s most prestigious wine competitions. These wines took out not one but multiple international trophies, thanks to a single winemaking cohort with an unwavering commitment to excellence.
At the centre of it all, leading the team is joint CEO and Chief Winemaker Adam Wadewitz, whose deep knowledge of regional expression, seasonal nuance and restrained craftsmanship has seen not just one, but two of their Chardonnays recognised on the global stage.
From their base in Balhannah, the crew behind this Adelaide Hills winery has produced the 2023 M3 Chardonnay, recently awarded Best Adelaide Hills Chardonnay at the International Wine Challenge in London.
The M3 received 96 points from the judges, who praised its finesse and elegance.
“We are always striving to express the best of the Adelaide Hills and the nuances of each season,” said Adam.
“The 2023 vintage was cool and late, which gave us beautiful flavour intensity, vibrant acidity and those pristine, cool season characters we love. For this wine to be recognised on a global stage is incredibly special.”
But the accolades didn’t stop there.
The same team is also behind Tolpuddle Vineyard, a small but beautiful site in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, which swept the competition with its 2023 Chardonnay.
This wine received a near-perfect 98 points and took home six trophies, including Best Australian White, Best Australian Chardonnay and the coveted International Chardonnay Trophy.
Judges described it as “compelling and addictive,” awarding it the top honour across all Chardonnays in the competition.
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Tasmania’s Coal River Valley
Although Tolpuddle’s vines grow in Tasmania, the wine is made in South Australia. After harvest, the fruit is transported to the Adelaide Hills, where the same hands, same winery and same philosophy that make the Shaw + Smith M3 shape it into something remarkable.
“We are blown away by these results. The wines could not be treated more differently! I think what is even more satisfying, is that we have been able to capture what is special about each region in the wine,” said Adam.
When asked how the team adapts their techniques when working with fruit from Tasmania versus the Adelaide Hills, Adam said “Tasmania is harvested later than the Adelaide Hills because its colder, it has higher acidity and needs more time to mature and evolve.”
“To contrast that, making M3 from the Adelaide hills is all about capturing the expression of the season and keeping things fresh. We don’t follow a recipe – we respond to what the region and season brings. Different regions, different approach,” adam added.
It’s this dual-regional precision and winemaking mastery that has made both wines standouts in a field of thousands.
“When we bought the Tasmanian vineyard back in 2011, we couldn’t have imagined the international success and reputation that these wines have received,” says Co-Founder Martin Shaw.
“Adam is an exceptional winemaker who has captured the essence of the Tolpuddle site. This tops off an exciting few months, having opened the Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room in December,” added Martin.
Together, the back-to-back success of these wines proves that South Australia’s winemaking talent, rooted in the Adelaide Hills, is setting the global benchmark for modern, cool climate Chardonnay.
Shaw + Smith
Where: 136 Jones Road, Balhannah
For more information on Shaw + Smith, click here.
For more information on Tolpuddle, click here.
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