Selected from over 6,000 leading growers the award has been narrowed to a list of Australia’s top 50 vineyards to a select the kingpin grape grower
The Vineyard of the Year Award was created in 2020 to place vineyards across the nation at the heart of the Australian wine story, and the heart of the Australian wine community.
With over 6,000 grape growers, picking the top vineyards in Australia is no easy task.
Inundated with entries, the judges narrowed the field to the 50 that best exemplified the values of sustainability, innovation, provenance and growing great wine.
Judging awards panellist Max Allen reflected on the competition, “As thousands of Australian grape growers and winemakers struggle with the most sodden start to the growing season they’ve ever experienced – not to mention the flood devastation suffered by many, and the ongoing fallout from the pandemic – it’s good to be reminded that many vignerons across the country are also looking beyond the here-and-now, to long-term sustainability, regeneration and exciting quality improvements in their vineyards.
“The 50 finalists in this, the third Vineyard of the Year Awards, show that the spirits of resilience and innovation and custodianship are alive and well in our viticultural community, despite all the challenges hurled at it by Mother Nature and world events,” Max added.
To judge the awards, a group of leading experts on viticulture were enlisted to personally review all the applicants. Dan Falkenberg, Kerry DeGaris, Kim Chalmers and Melissa Brown joined Max Allen in arriving at a very exciting Top 50.
That we can showcase 50 such diverse and inspiring vineyards is a testament to the strength of Australia’s grape-growing community. These vineyards are the source of some the best wines in Australia.
“We all know great wines start in the vineyard, and so do sustainable and regenerative philosophies,” said awards panellist Melissa Brown.
“Our soils, and the biodiversity within and surrounding it, we nurture not only for the vines that grow upon it but also for the improvement of the land for future generations. These awards are important because not only do they highlight our great vineyards and the fruit they produce, but they especially recognise the significance of these vines being farmed sustainably. Congratulations to the Top 50 – all worthy winners,” Melissa added.
Shaping the top 50 finalists
The 50 finalists in the Vineyard of the Year Awards included 26 from South Australia, ten from Victoria, seven from New South Wales/ACT, one from Tasmania five from Western Australia, and – in the third edition of these awards – the first from Queensland.
Over the coming months, younggunofwine.com will release a profile of each of these vineyards, and the viticulturists/growers behind them.
Dan Falkenberg was last year’s Vineyard of the Year trophy winner with Eden Hall Vineyard. He joined the panel this year. “The implementation of regenerative and biological farming uptake amongst the entrants is growing across all regions, and the understanding of environmental stewardship to restore landscape function woven into viticulture is truly inspirational.”
Dr Kerry DeGaris, with a PhD in grapevines, said, “It’s exciting to read the passion for the rejuvenation of vineyard soils that many entrants were able to relay through their applications. So long the poor cousin to ‘other’ vineyard assets that regularly undergo renovation, it’s pleasing to see the diversity of treatments being trialled and becoming mainstream.”
Falkenberg concluded, “It is truly inspiring to see the great effort and passion that viticulturists relate to producing wines of distinct character and unique complexity. The combination of emerging new and old viticultural practices, innovation, resourcefulness and collaboration are unique characteristics that strengthen and enable grape-growing communities to contribute and play a key role in maintaining a sustainable industry.”
Besides celebrating the achievements of 2022’s Top 50, there are four trophies to be awarded, with the winners announced by June 2023.
The Vineyard of the Year Awards are brought together with the support and the shared vision of our partners: AME Group, Corteva, Netafim, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Roundwood Solutions, Stoller and Wine Guns for Hire.
The Top 50 Finalists in the Vineyard of the Year Awards
In state and alphabetical order
South Australia
Adelina, Clare Valley (Colin McBryde & Michael Maloney)
Alkina, Barossa Valley (Johnny Schuster & Amelia Nolan)
Angove – Warboys, McLaren Vale (Nick Bakkum)
Artwine – Springfarm, Clare Valley (Glen Kelly)
Bon View, Barossa Valley (Ralph Schrapel)
Cassini Vineyard, Kangaroo Island (Nick Dugmore & Max Dugmore)
Hayes Family – Stone Well Estate, Barossa Valley (Amanda Mader)
Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, McLaren Vale (Michael Lane)
Hither & Yon – Sand Road, McLaren Vale (Richard Leask)
Kaesler, Barossa Valley (Nigel van der Zande)
Kalleske – Johann Georg, Barossa Valley (Kym Kalleske)
Koonara – Head Honcho, Coonawarra (Dru Reschke)
Land of Tomorrow – Grindstone Vineyard, Wrattonbully (Susie Harris)
Longview, Adelaide Hills (Christopher Mein)
MMAD Vineyard, McLaren Vale (Ben Jonas)
Orbis, McLaren Vale (Andrew Mackenzie & Richard Leask)
Paeroa, Matthew Brown (McLaren Vale)
Penley Estate, Coonawarra (Hans Loder)
Pewsey Vale Vineyard, Eden Valley (Brooke Howell)
Ricca Terra – 171 Jury Road, Riverland (Ashley Ratcliff)
Smallfry – Vine Vale, Barossa Valley (Wayne Ahrens & Suzi Hilder)
Tapanappa – Foggy Hill, Southern Fleurieu (Brian Croser)
Tscharke, Barossa Valley (Damien Tscharke)
Turkey Flat, Barossa Valley (Mark Przibilla)
Vinteloper, Adelaide Hills (David Bowley)
Yangarra – High Sands, McLaren Vale (Michael Lane)
Victoria
Bannockburn, Geelong (Lucas Grigsby)
Crittenden Estate, Mornington Peninsula (Rollo Crittenden & Garry Crittenden)
Gembrook Hill, Yarra Valley (Andrew Marks)
Heathcote Estate, Heathcote (Tom Carson & Paul Viggers)
Jasper Hill – Georgia’s Paddock, Heathcote (Nick McNally)
Lake Moodemere, Rutherglen (Joel Chambers)
Palisade, Beechworth (Peter Bartholomew & Mark Walpole)
Quealy – Winery Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula (Lucas Blanck)
Seppelt Great Western, Great Western (James McKenzie)
Sutton Grange, Bendigo (Sue Hamilton)
New South Wales/ACT
Dark Horse, Canberra District (Dr David Carpenter)
Keith Tulloch Wine – Field of Mars, Hunter Valley (Brent Hutton)
Lark Hill, (Canberra District) Dr David Carpenter
Ravensworth, Canberra District (Bryan Martin)
Scarborough on Hermitage, Hunter Valley (Jerome Scarborough & Liz Riley)
See Saw – Annangrove Park, Orange (Brendan Jarrett)
Winmark, Broke Fordwich (Liz Riley)
Western Australia
Cape Mentelle – Estate Vineyard, Margaret River (David Moulton)
Corymbia – Rocket’s Vineyard, Swan Valley (Genevieve & Rob Mann)
Cullen, Margaret River (Vanya Cullen & Brian Martin)
Devil’s Lair, Margaret River (Simon Robertson)
Voyager – V9, Margaret River (Glen Ryan)
Queensland
Savina Lane, Granite Belt (Brad Hutchings)
Tasmania Stefano Lubiana, Tasmania (Steve Lubiana)
