The Stella Bella team celebrated last night after taking home five Trophies from the 2018 Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show, including Most Successful Exhibitor and Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Show. The 2018 Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show attracted 112 exhibitors and 723 entries to the 17th Margaret River Wine Show, with judging at Ramada Resort Dunsborough and the Wine Show Gala Dinner at Leeuwin Estate.
Naming Rights Partner, Langton’s Head of Sales Alex Jenkins said "Langton's is again proud to be the Major sponsor of the 2018 Margaret River Wine Show. The Margaret River Wine Association is doing a tremendous job shining a light on this unique and important Australian wine region. Though our support we hope to help recognise and reward the many men and women who work tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence. We congratulate not only all the winners of the awards, but the community as a whole, who's constant drive for excellence as a region deserves to be recognised"
Third-time Chair of Judges, Corrina Wright from Oliver’s Taranga said “Again, Margaret River showed that it is a quadruple-threat region, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon leading the charge, Semillon/Sauvignon blends & Rose fast picking up speed.”
Corrina led the team of 21 judges and associate judges who awarded 368 medals, 54 Gold, 83 Silver and 231 Bronze, in addition to following major trophies and awards:
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Show
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2017
Seguin Moreau Trophy for Red Wine of Show
Nocturne Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Labelmakers Group Trophy for White Wine of Show
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2017
Vinline Mobile Bottling Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor
Stella Bella
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Provenance
Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay 2009, 2012, 2017
Singapore Airlines International Judge’s Trophy
Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay 2017
SWAT Winery Equipment Specialists Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Capel Storage & Transport Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2017
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Red
Nocturne Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Portavin Trophy for Best Single Vineyard White
Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay 2017
Cospak / Saverglass Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Stella Bella Cabernet Merlot 2017
VA Filtration / Memstar Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Deep Woods Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018
BFL Trophy for Best Blend of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon
Watershed Premium Wines The Farm Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Nadalie Trophy for Best Oaked White other than Chardonnay
Higher Plane Fume Blanc 2018
CHEP Trophy for Best Shiraz
Juniper Crossing Shiraz 2017
Chr. Hansen Trophy for Best Rosé
Coward & Black Lady Margo Rosé 2018
Laffort Trophy for Best Other Blend or Varietal
Marq Malbec 2017
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Dr Tom Cullity (Posthumously)
John Brocksopp
Bob Cartwright
Clairault | Streicker Viticultural Excellence Award
Steve Martin, Stella Bella
Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association Wine Tourism Excellence Award Winner
Emily Bromell, Howard Park Wines
MRWA Chair, Barry House presented three Lifetime Achievement Awards, Clairault | Streiker presented the Viticulture Excellence Award and Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association (MRBTA) presented the inaugural Wine Tourism Excellence Award.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland said “It is great to see all facets of the wine industry acknowledged at our Gala night and the Wine Tourism Excellence Award was a great new addition to the celebrations last night.”
Wine Show Chairman Cliff Royle said, “Corrina Wright did a great job sharing her insights and leading the strong group of judges from around Australia, as well as Eddie McDougall, international judge from Hong Kong, and Madeline Stenwreth MW from Sweden. As Corrina’s last year as Chair of Judges, we look forward to welcoming Dave Brooks in 2019.”
TV personality behind the Discovery Channel and Netflix series, ‘The Flying Winemaker’, Eddie McDougall joined as this year’s International Judge, supported by Singapore Airlines, to provide an important international perspective to Margaret River’s regional wine show.
Eddie said “There is not a shadow of a doubt that the Margaret River Wine Show is an incredible forum for highlighting some of Australia’s most noble wine interpretations. Witnessing first-hand the region’s capability to produce global benchmarks for Chardonnay and Cabernet blends is a testament I am excited to share amongst the international wine community.”
Langton’s 2018 Margaret River Wine Show Judges were:
Corina Wright – Oliver’s Taranga Chair of Judges
Eddie McDougall - International Judge
Glenn Barry – Tonic Wines
Dave Brooks – Wine Marketing Labs
Melanie Chester - Sutton Grange Estate
Sandrine Gimon Winemaker - Wine Rage Consulting
Alex Hudak – Pure Wine Co
Robert Mann Winemaker – Corymbia
Kate Morgan Winemaker - Ipso Facto Wines & Byron & Harold Est
Sarah Pidgeon – Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Ben Portet Senior Winemaker - Dominique Portet
Simon Steele Chief Winemaker - Medhurst Wines
Adam Wadewitz – Shaw + Smith