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Australian Organic
Wine Awards 2023

Celebrating Excellence in the Organic Industry

Winners for the 2023 Australian Organic Wine Awards have been announced.

The Wine Awards program is designed to showcase Australia’s highest quality certified organic and biodynamic wines while raising the profile of our growing industry. 211 certified organic wines from across 45 wineries were submitted for the third edition of our Awards, with a high quality of entries received.

A media release regarding the Awards winners can be viewed here.

If you have any questions about the 2023 Awards program, please call 07 3350 5716. 

Congratulations to the winners of the Australian Organic Wine Awards 2023!

Australian Organic Limited is delighted to announce the winners of the Australian Organic Wine Awards 2023.

Ngeringa Vineyard’s Iluma Syrah 2021 has been awarded the Cullen Wines Trophy for Wine of Show, as well as the Red of Show. Jackson Wine Estates’ 2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Blanc was awarded White of Show

Six category winners were announced, as well as 11 Gold Medal winners.

Cullen Wines Trophy Wine of Show, Red of Show and Gold Medal
2021 Ngeringa Iluma Syrah, Ngeringa Vineyards, Adelaide Hills

White of Show and Gold Medal
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Blanc, Jackson Wine Estates, McLaren Vale

Best New Entrant, Gold Medal
2020 Carlei Estate Fruit Day Shiraz, Carlei Wines, Heathcote

Best Park Wine, Gold Medal
2022 Yalumba Gen Viognier, Hill-Smith Family Estates, South Australia

Best Left of Centre Wine, Silver Medal
2022 Stormflower Pet Nat, Stormflower Vineyards, Margaret River

Best Chillable Red, Gold Medal
2021 A thing of beauty Grenache, Tscharke, Barossa Valley

The full list of winners including Gold, Silver and Bronze awards can be found below.

Gold Award Recipients

2022 Windance Estate Cabernet Merlot, BA Brent-White & MJ Wheatley, Margaret River

2020 Carlei Estate Fruit Day Shiraz, Carlei Wines, Heathcote

2020 De Bortoli Organic Field Blend Shiraz, De Bortoli Wines, Riverina

2022 Yalumba Gen Viognier, Hill-Smith Family Estates, South Australia

2021 Yangarra Estate Vineyard GSM, Jackson Wine Estates, McLaren Vale

2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Blanc, Jackson Wine Estates, McLaren Vale

2021 Ngeringa Iluma Syrah, Ngeringa Vineyards, Adelaide Hills

2022 Polish Hill River Riesling, O’Leary Walker Wines, Polish Hill River, Clare Valley

2020 Rosily Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosily Vineyard, Margaret River

2021 A thing of beauty Grenache, Tscharke, Barossa Valley

2022 Zilzie Butterfly Kiss Shiraz, Zilzie Wines, SEA

Entry Terms & Conditions

  • For AOL Members or certified operators licensed to the Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACOS), the entry fee is $50 including GST for up to six wine entries.
  • For those not certified to the ACOS, the entry fee is $250 including GST for up to six wine entries.
  • Applications are open to certification bodies ACO, AUS-QUAL, SXC, BDRI, NCO, and OFC.
  • All wines to be commercially labelled and available in Australia at the time of entry. A minimum quantity of 25 cases of submitted wines must be available for sale at the time of the announcement to maximise the commercial opportunity.
  • Proof of certification must be presented if required.
  • Applications and payment will only be accepted via the provided online links and forms.
  • Applicants must send 3 bottles of each entered wine to provided address (3x corked or 3x screw cap). Wines to be sent to AOL Offices in Nundah (details to be provided in your confirmation email).
  • Applicants may submit up to six certified wines, including any varietals and vintage.
  • No tank samples accepted.
  • Applications open on Thursday 27 April 2023 and close at COB on Friday 9 June 2023. Winners will be announced on Friday 8 September 2023.
  • Samples received after 16 June 2023 will be RTS.
  • Winners will be required to supply a high-resolution image of themselves and/or product to be used for Australian Organic Wine Awards announcements.

Judging Criteria

All wines will be tasted in a temperature-controlled, private venue in Brisbane. The wines will be judged blind in a range of specific categories, which are dependent on the wines that are submitted. Please see the 2021 Award categories below for reference.

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet blends
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Grenache & grenache blends
  • Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier
  • Pinot Gris
  • Sparkling
  • Rosé
  • Riesling and Aromatic Whites
  • Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc Blends
  • Semillon, Semillon Blends
  • Shiraz
  • Shiraz Blends
  • Mediterranean Varietals
  • Mataro, Mataro Blends and Zinfandel

The 100-point score scale indicates the average score given by the tasting panel.

 

Awards Timeline

Wine Scholarship applications open: Friday, 3 March 2023

Wine Scholarship applications close: Friday, 14 April 2023

Wine applications open: Thursday, 27 April 2023

Applications close: Friday, 9 June 2023

Deadline for wine samples to be received: Friday, 16 June 2023

Winners announced: Friday, 8 September 2023

Australian Organic Wine Awards 2023 Judges

Mike Bennie

Wine & Drinks Writer, Presenter & Wine Judge

  • Co-Founder/Partner – P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants
  • Writer – Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine
  • Wine/Drinks Editor – delicious.
  • Editor-at-Large and contributor/writer – WineFront.com.au
  • Wine writer – Voyeur Virgin Airlines Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, Wine Business Magazine, Men’s Style magazine
  • Len Evans Tutorial Graduate
  • Co-Founder – Drink Easy Awards

Ramon Arnavas

Sommelier, Wine Judge

  • Australian Organic Wine Awards 2020 Panel Chair Judge
  • Panel Chair Judge RASQ Toowoomba Wine Show and Mediterranean Challenge 2019
  • Judge RASQ Toowoomba Wine Show and Mediterranean Challenge 2016 and 2018
  • Judge Royal Queensland Wine Show 2017, 2018 and 2019
  • Len Evans Tutorial Scholar 2016
  • Lorenzo Galli Scholarship National DUX 2016
  • Ruinart Sommelier challenge finalist 2016
  • Recipient of the ‘Sommeliers Australia’ Scholarship in 2010.

Alex McPherson

Group Beverage Director, STK Group

  • Australian Organic Wine Awards 2020 Judge
  • Len Evans Scholar 2003
  • Wine Judge
  • WSET
  • Beverage Director
  • Sommelier.

Sophia Gannon

Sommelier, Wine Professional

  • Australian Organic Wine Awards Associate Scholarship 2023 recipient
  • Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 2 and Level 3
  • Front of House Supervisor and Sommelier at Vincent Wine
  • Wine industry trainee at Nikola Estate