One of Australia’s largest and longest-running wine shows, the Sydney Royal Wine Show awards, took place last week – assessing over 1700 wines with a panel of expert judges. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW announced the trophy winners of its 2024 awards at an event held at Sydney Showground.
The first Sydney Royal Wine Show took place in 1826, however quality wines were few and far between. Now in its 198th year, the awards aim to promote and support the Australian wine industry and its producers.
Across the 52 classes judged during the Sydney Royal Wine Show, the 2024 and 2023 chardonnay class claimed the highest medal count with 118 medals awarded, 9 of which were gold medals.
All wine producing states from across Australia secured a trophy this year, however it was New South Wales that proved it was the state to beat, claiming the highest gold medal count and representing 10 out of the 23 wines awarded a trophy. Australia’s largest producing state, South Australia, received the highest overall medal count.
A young Tasmanian pinot noir claimed the Best Wine of Show, the first pinot noir to do so since 2015, and the first Tasmanian wine to win since 2016. The 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir is also the youngest red to win the acclaimed title for over 24 years.
Sydney Royal Wine Show Chair of Judges, Sarah Crowe, said the young red was a real standout and congratulated Bream Creek on a fantastic vintage.
“The young pinot class was a real highlight for our judges this year, and this standard of quality can be reflected in our 2024 Wine of Show winner, the 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir,” said Crowe.
“For a young red to stand out amongst over 1,700 entries is impressive, and if that wasn’t remarkable enough, it is also the youngest red to win Wine of Show in Sydney in the last two decades, if not longer. It is quite the achievement.”
Winner of the Best Cabernet Sauvignon trophy was the 2021 vintage Yalumba Sanctum Cabernet Sauvignon, collected at the event by senior winemaker, Heather Fraser. The South Australian wine is made in the inner Sanctum of Coonawarra, with soil perfect for growing full-bodied red wines.
“Sanctum is a modern take on a classic regional and varietal stalwart that is fun, flavoursome, stylish and uninhibited,” said Fraser.
“Silky and vibrant, the wine bursts with intense black fruits, the palate is structured with the mid-palate balanced by fine, long tannins.
“It is the product of a great vintage and a real testament to the viticultural team headed up by James Freckleton in the southeast. Sanctum showcases the modernity of Coonawarra and the outstanding quality of our Yalumba Menzies estate vineyard,” she said.
In 2025, the current Sydney Royal Chair of Judges will hand the baton to Hunter Valley winemaker and owner of De Iuliis Wines, Michael De Iuliis.
De Iuliis will hold the role as Chair of Judges for the next 3 years including the 200 year anniversary of the first Sydney Royal Wine Show – to take place in 2026.
“It is a great honour, not only due to the importance of the show to our exhibitors but also because of the way in which it brings our community together,” said Crowe.
“Judging allows producers to get a deeper understanding and independent review on what they are producing, which is important for development.
“What we are trying to achieve through shows like Sydney Royal is the improvement of the industry together, as winemakers, sommeliers and growers.”
The full list of trophy winners is below, with all medal results available at rasnsw.com.au.
Trophy Winners
The Douglas Lamb Perpetual Trophy for Best Riesling
2024 Winner: 2017 Robert Stein Riesling
The McCarthy Perpetual Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
2024 Winner: 2024 Howard Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
The David Clarke Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Semillon
2024 Winner: 2019 Brokenwood Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon
The RAS of NSW Annual Prize for Best Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio
2024 Winner: 2024 Hahndorf Hill Pinot Grigio
The AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy for Best Chardonnay
2024 Winner: 2022 Evans & Tate Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay
The Bert Bear Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Other White Varietal
2024 Winner: 2017 1927 Vines Marsanne
The Hanaminno Perpetual Trophy for Best Sweet White
2024 Winner: 2020 Deen De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon
The RAS of NSW Annual Prize for Best Current Vintage White
2024 Winner: 2024 Robert Stein Dry Riesling
The Dr Henry John Lindeman Memorial Perpetual Prize for Best Mature White
2024 Winner: 2019 Brokenwood Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon
The Leslie Kemeny Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Rosé
2024 Winner: 2024 De Iuliis Rosé
The Geoffrey Crundall Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
2024 Winner: 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
The George Mackey Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Grenache
2024 Winner: 2023 Huntington Estate Special Reserve Grenache
The Drinks Association Perennial Trophy for Best Shiraz
2024 Winner: 2022 Mercer Wines Limited Release Shiraz
The Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy for Best Shiraz Dominant Blend
2024 Winner: 2022 Calabria St Petri Shiraz Carignan
The Dan Murphy’s Perennial Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
2024 Winner: 2021 Yalumba Sanctum Cabernet Sauvignon
The Jones, Steains and Waller Perpetual Trophy for Best Cabernet Dominant Blend
2024 Winner: 2021 Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot
The Wine Communicators of Australia Perpetual Trophy for Best Other Red Varietal
2024 Winner: 2023 Heirloom Vineyards McLaren Vale Touriga
The John Swann Perpetual Trophy for Best Other Red Blend
2024 Winner: 2023 St Hugo Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro
The Thorp Annual Trophy for Best Sparkling White or Rosé
2024 Winner: 2015 House of Arras Grand Vintage
The J C M Fornachon Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Fortified
2024 Winner: Morris Old Premium Rare Muscat
The Dan Murphy’s Perennial Trophy for Best Value Wine (White, Rosé or Red)
2024 Winner: 2023 Kirrihill Regional Series Clare Riesling
The NSW Department of Primary Industries James Busby Perpetual Trophy for Best NSW Wine
2024 Winner: 2023 Robert Stein Reserve Riesling
The Restaurant and Catering Industry Association Perpetual Trophy for Best Small Producer Wine
2024 Winner: 2023 Silkman Wines Silk Chardonnay
The Len Evans Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine
2024 Winner: 2019 Brokenwood Tallawanta Vineyard Semillon
The Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White
2024 Winner: 2022 Evans & Tate Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay
The Dr Gilbert Phillips Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Red
2024 Winner: 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
The Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show
2024 Winner of Best Wine of Show: 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
