The winners of the inaugural Drink Easy Awards are in.
The awards came to a close in late 2019, with a three-day blind tasting of wine, beer and cider, spirits and – in an Australian first – non-alcoholic beverages.
There were 11 wine categories, including sparkling white and red wines; pét-nat; rosé; vermouth, aromatised and fortified; and skin-contact and orange wines. For both white and red wines, the categories were light and refreshing, medium bodied and textural, and full flavoured.
The overall winner of the wine category was Oakridge Wines, with its 2019 Garden Gris pinot. Judges said in the Victorian drop’s tasting notes:
“This is such an outstanding skin-contact wine. Impressive in colour, detail[ed] in scent and flavour, wonderful and serious in texture. It offers drinkers the full flex of the variety with length, persistence and deliciousness on its side. It kicks off with cranberry, rhubarb and Campari scents, while the palate drives long and deep with chalky texture, bitter orange and cranberry flavours, licks of sour cherry fruit and a weave of puckering, Italianate tannins. Superb stuff.”
Here are the Drink Easy Awards’ best Australian wines by style and order of placing.
White – light and refreshing
1. Mewstone – Riesling 2018
Mewstone Wines, TAS Huon Valley/D’Entrecasteaux Channel
2. Meadowbank – Riesling 2019
Meadowbank Wines, TAS Derwent Valley
3. Eden Road – Canberra Riesling 2018
Eden Road Wines, ACT Canberra Region
4. Harkham – Aziza’s Semillon 2018
Harkham Wineries Pty Ltd, NSW Hunter Valley
5. Mac Forbes Wines – EB47 Concrete Riesling 2019
Mac Forbes Wines, VIC Central Victoria
6. Pewsey Vale – Prima Riesling 2019
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Pewsey Vale Vineyard, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
7. Pewsey Vale – 1961 Block Riesling 2018
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Pewsey Vale Vineyard, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
8. La Violetta – Yé-Yé Blanc 2018
La Violetta Wines, WA Great Southern
9. Golding Wines – The Spruiker Pinot Gris 2018
Golding Wines Market Series, SA Adelaide Hills
10. D’Arenberg – The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2019
D’Arenberg, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
White – medium bodied and textural
1. Sigurd Wines – Hoyde Chardonnay 2018
Sigurd Wines, SA Adelaide Hills
2. Worlds Apart – Oakbank Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Worlds Apart Wines, SA Adelaide Hills
3. Vinteloper – Urban Winery Project #5 Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer/Riesling 2018
Vinteloper, SA Adelaide and Adelaide Plains
4. Jordy Kay – Chèvre Henty Field Blend 2018
Jordy Kay, VIC Henty
5. Gilbert – Chardonnay 2017
The Gilbert Family Wine Company, NSW Orange
6. Unico Zelo – Jade & Jasper Fiano 2018
Unico Zelo, SA Riverland
7. SC Pannell – Pinot Gris 2019
Stephen Pannell Wines, SA Adelaide Hills
8. Rose Kentish Wines – Pinot Gris 2019
Rose Kentish Wines, SA Adelaide Hills
9. Golding Wines – La Francesa Savagnin 2014
Golding Wines Single Vineyard Series, SA Adelaide Hills
10. Murdoch Hill – Chardonnay 2018
Murdoch Hill, SA Adelaide Hills
White – full flavoured
1. Crittenden Estate – Cri de Coeur Savagnin 2015
Crittenden Estate, VIC Melbourne Basin
2. Silverstream Wines – Chardonnay 2016
Silverstream Wines, WA Great Southern
3. Voyager Estate – Chardonnay 2017
Voyager Estate, WA Margaret River
4. Kangarilla Road – The Veil Savagnin 2015
Kangarilla Road, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
5. Chain of Ponds – Corkscrew Road Chardonnay2018
Chain of Ponds Pty Ltd, SA Adelaide Hills
Red – light and refreshing
1. Ngeringa – Uncultured Pinot Noir 2019
Ngeringa Vineyards, SA Adelaide Hills
2. Murdoch Hill – Ridley Pinot x Three 2018
Murdoch Hill, SA Adelaide Hills
3. The Lane Vineyard – Pinot Meunier 2018
The Lane Vineyard, SA Adelaide Hills
4. Punt Road – Airlie Bank Franc 2018
Punt Road Wines, VIC Yarra Valley
5. Giant Steps – Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Giant Steps, VIC Yarra Valley
6. Voyager Estate – Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot 2017
Voyager Estate, WA Margaret River
7. Koerner Wine – La Korse Sangiovese/Grenache/Malbec/Sciacarello/Carignan 2019
Koerner Winemaking Pty Ltd, SA Clare Valley
8. Murdoch Hill – Pinot Noir 2018
Murdoch Hill, SA Adelaide Hills
9. Murdoch Hill – Vis-à-Vis Cabernet Franc 2019
Murdoch Hill, SA Adelaide Hills
10. Blind Corner – Nouveau/Shiraz 2019
Blind Corner, WA Margaret River
Red – medium bodied and textural
1. Koerner Wine – Niellucccio Sangiovese 2018
Koerner Winemaking Pty Ltd, SA Clare Valley
2. Harkham – Aziza’s Shiraz 2018
Harkham Wineries Pty Ltd, NSW Hunter Valley
3. Cape Jaffa – CJ Shiraz 2018
Cape Jaffa Wines, SA Limestone Coast
4. Penley Estate – McLaren Vale Project Shiraz 2018
Penley Estate, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
5. Mac Forbes Wines – EB40 Nebbiolo 2017
Mac Forbes Wines, VIC Yarra Valley
6. Dalrymple – Single Site Coal River Valley Pinot Noir 2015
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Dalrymple Vineyards, TAS Coal River Valley
7. Cré – Pinot Noir 2019
Cré Wines, VIC Yarra Valley
8. Guthrie – The Snare Syrah 2018
Guthrie, SA Adelaide Hills
9. Bleasdale – The Wild Fig SGM 2018
Bleasdale Vineyards, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
10. DCB – Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2018
DCB Wine, VIC Yarra Valley*
Red wine – full flavoured
1. Bondar – Violet Hour Shiraz 2018
Bondar Wines, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
2. Silent Noise – Montepulciano 2017
Big Red Wine Company, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
3. Berton Vineyards – Limited Reserve 2017
Berton Vineyards, NSW Riverina
4. Blind Corner – Bernard/Cabernet 2017
Blind Corner, WA Margaret River
5. Jericho – Adelaide Hills Syrah 2016
Jericho Wines, SA Adelaide Hills
6. Head Red – Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2018
Head Wines, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
7. Samuel’s Gorge – Mosaic of Dreams Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah 2017
Samuel’s Gorge Pty Ltd, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
8. Express Winemakers – Syrah 2018
Express Winemakers Pty Ltd, WA Great Southern
Sparkling white and red wines
1. Jansz Tasmania – Premium Cuvée NV
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Jansz Tasmania, TAS North East
2. Piccadilly Circus – Blanc de Blancs Sparkling 2016
Piccadilly Vineyards, SA Adelaide Hills
3. Jansz Tasmania – Vintage Cuvée 2014
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Jansz Tasmania, TAS North East
4. Nocton Vineyard – Sparkling NV 2017
Nocton Vineyard Pty Ltd, TAS Coal River Valley
5. Jansz Tasmania – Premium Rosé NV
Hill-Smith Family Vineyards – Jansz Tasmania, TAS North East
6. Blok Sparkling – Pinot Chardonnay NV
Blok Coonawarra, SA Limestone Coast
Pét-nat
1. Brave New Wine – Nat Daddy Sauvignon Blanc/Shiraz 2019
Brave New Wine, WA Great Southern
2. Gilbert – Gilbert Pét-Nat Riesling 2019
The Gilbert Family Wine Company NSW Orange
3. Blind Corner – Petillant/Chenin Blanc/Shiraz 2018
Blind Corner, WA Margaret River
4. Express Winemakers – Foamo 2019
Express Winemakers Pty Ltd, WA Great Southern
5. Quealy Winemakers – Secco Splendido Metodo Ancestrale 2018
Quealy Winemakers, VIC Melbourne Basin
6. Small Island Wines – Pét-Nat /Pinot Noir/Chard 2019
Small Island Wines, TAS Coal River Valley
7. Dormilona – Clayface Pét-Nat 2019
Dormilona, WA Margaret River
8. Voyager Estate – Project Pét-Nat Rouge 2019
Voyager Estate, WA Margaret River
9. Delinquente Wine Co – Weeping Juan Pink Pét-Nat 2019
Delinquente Wine Co, SA Riverland
10. Ngeringa – Uncultured Pét-Nat 2019
Ngeringa Vineyards, SA Adelaide Hills
Rosé
1. Mallaluka – Sangiovese Rosé 2019
Mallaluka Wines, ACT Canberra Regional
2. Brothers Koerner – Rosé/Merlot/Chardonnay 2019
Koerner Winemaking Pty Ltd, SA Adelaide Hills
3. La Prova – Aglianico Rosato 2018
Scott Winemaking Pty Ltd, SA Adelaide Hills
4. Express Winemakers – Rosé 2018
Express Winemakers Pty Ltd, WA Margaret River
5. Hither & Yon – Rosé 2019
Hither & Yon, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
6. El Desperado – Rosé 2018
The Pawn Wine Co, SA Adelaide Hills
7. Bone Dry – Rosé 2018
Sofi Trading Pty Ltd, NSW Mudgee
8. Bondar – Rosé 2019
Bondar Wines, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
9. Silent Noise – Nero Rosé 2019
Big Red Wine Company, SA Riverland
10. Sherrah Wine Co – Grenache Rosé 2019
Sherrah Wine Co, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
Vermouth, aromatised and fortified
1. Maidenii – Kina Quinquina 2018
Maidenii, VIC Central Victoria
2. Maidenii – Classic Vermouth 2018
Maidenii, VIC Central Victoria
3. Crittenden Estate – Cri de Coeur Macvin NV
Crittenden Estate, VIC Melbourne Basin
4. Adelaide Hills Distillery – Rose Vermouth NV
Adelaide Hills Distillery, SA Adelaide Hills
5. Adelaide Hills Distillery – Rosso Vermouth NV
Adelaide Hills Distillery, SA Adelaide Hills
6. Seppeltsfield Wines – Elixir III Charmingly Caramel NV
Seppeltsfield Wines, VIC Northeast Victoria
7. All Saints Estate – Rutherglen Muscat NV
All Saints Estate, VIC Northeast Victoria
8. Maidenii – Unfiltered Dry Vermouth 2017
Maidenii, VIC Central Victoria
9. Seppeltsfield Wines – Para Grand Tawny NV
Seppeltsfield Wines, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
10. Seppeltsfield Wines – Para Rare Tawny NV
Seppeltsfield Wines, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
Skin-contact and orange wines
1. Oakridge Wines – Garden Gris Pinot Gris 2019
Oakridge Wines, VIC Yarra Valley
2. Smallfry Wines – Tangerine Dream 2019
WG Ahrens & SL Hilder, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
3. Edenflo – Eden Valley Gewürztraminer/Riesling/Pinot 2019
Edenflo, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
4. Fall From Grace – La Madrina Arneis 2018
La Madrina, SA Fleurieu Peninsula
5. Koerner Wine – Pigato Vermentino 2019
Koerner Winemaking Ptd Ltd, SA Clare Valley
6. Handpicked – Trial Batch Skin-Contact Riesling 2019
Handpicked Wines, VIC Melbourne Basin
7. Unico Zelo – Esoterico Spiced Blend 2018
Unico Zelo, SA Riverland
8. Sigurd Wines – White Blend Riesling/Sauv Blanc/Semillon/Vermentino/Gewurtz 2018
Sigurd Wines, SA Barossa/Eden Valley
9. Mallaluka – Fiano/Viognier 2019
Mallaluka Wines, ACT Canberra Region
10. Brave New Wine – Klusterphunk Chardonnay 2018
Brave New Wine, WA Great Southern
See the full list of finalists and individual tasting notes at Drink Easy.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Drink Easy.
