Australian wine has received another international accolade, after a high-performing year for the industry. The 2022 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay secured second place in US-based wine publication Vinous' Top 100 Wines of 2024.
Australian wine has been incredibly high-performing this year on the international stage, taking out five of the 24 wine trophies at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Tasmanian sparkling wine producer, House of Arras, made the first Australian sparkling to receive the Chairman’s Trophy at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC), and more than 50 Australian wines received a gold medal at the 2024 International Wine Challenge (IWC), coming second only to France.
The latest international accolade comes from Vinous, a globally regarded wine platform founded in May 2013 by Antonio Galloni, a former critic for Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate.
Awarded a perfect 100 points by Vinous’ Australian editor, Angus Hughson, the 2022 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay went on for consideration by the international Vinous team, including Galloni, where it was placed second overall and named the top white wine for 2024.
“What is most exciting about this achievement is that the final decision was not driven locally and was completely out of my hands,” Hughson said.
“It was determined by the entire Vinous team, whose recognition of the quality of this wine confirms that it undoubtedly stands tall among the greatest white wines in the world, particularly from the 2022 vintage.
“It also dramatically showcases what can be achieved with Chardonnay in Australia’s leading terroirs for the variety, as international interest in exceptional Australian Chardonnay is on the rise.”
In 2023, Giaconda joined La Place de Bordeaux (an association of French Négociants), and its Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is now distributed internationally by Établissements Jean-Pierre, except in Australia and New Zealand.
Giaconda winemaker, Rick Kinzbrunner, said he valued the international recognition immensely.
“To be awarded a perfect 100 points by Erin Larkin in The Wine Advocate for our 2021 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay was an incredible coup,” Kinzbrunner said.
“Then came our listing in ‘La Place,’ and now being named the number two wine in the world – we are absolutely blown away.
“I attribute these achievements to the unique terroir of Beechworth and to decades of commitment and passion that go into every bottle of Giaconda Chardonnay. It’s an exceptional vineyard site, and we’ve been fortunate to experience near-perfect vintage conditions,” he said.
In addition to Giaconda's success, Best's Wines received the number 98 spot in Vinous' Top 100 for its 2023 Riesling Great Western, scoring 94 points, and showcasing the excellence and diversity of Victoria's wine industry.
Wine Victoria CEO, Stephanie Duboudin, said: “these accolades underscore Victoria's prominence in the global wine arena, celebrating the region's unique terroirs and the unwavering dedication of its winemakers.”
