Winemaker Crowned World’s Best, Again

- McGuigan Wins IWSC International Winemaker of the Year 2011 -

Multi-award winning wine producer McGuigan Wines has been hailed as the ‘world’s best winemaker’ for the second time in three years by the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. Having already received the award in 2009, McGuigan Wines was named International Winemaker of the Year as well as Australian Producer of the Year at the awards ceremony on 16th November.

Central to the success was the highly decorated McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon, with the 2006 vintage taking Gold and ‘Best in Class’ as well as being awarded the highly coveted International Semillon Trophy – an award more commonly known as the ‘World’s Best Semillon.’ The 1997, 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages of the Bin 9000 Semillon also won Gold and ‘Best in Class’ awards.

On being named the world’s best winemaker, McGuigan Wines chief winemaker Neil McGuigan commented: “What an achievement. To have won International Winemaker of the Year once is phenomenal, but to be recognised by our industry peers as International Winemaker of the Year twice in just three years is mind blowing. It’s a truly once in a lifetime event’.

The backbone of the success was built on McGuigan Wines performance across the competition, winning an impressive 34 medals from a total of 37 entries – an unrivalled success rate of 91.9%. In addition to the International Semillon Trophy the winery received 5 Gold, 21 Silver and 8 bronze medals including 11 ‘Best in Class’ awards.

McGuigan adds: “To put this in perspective, we won the same number of Gold ‘Best in Class’ awards as the entire German industry, and the entire Chilean industry; and more than the sum total of Portuguese table wines – an amazing achievement for a single producer. A great result for McGuigan Wines and the Australian industry in general.”

“Our 2011 results outshone the previous performance in 2009. When we were awarded International Winemaker of the Year and Australian Producer of the Year in 2009 we won the International Riesling Trophy, 8 ‘Best in Class’ awards including 3 Gold and ‘Best in Class’, 1 Silver and 4 bronze medals. What’s most pleasing about our results in 2011 is that we’ve kept on improving, not rested on our laurels and have continued to drive quality and innovation across our portfolio. The result vindicates the philosophy of making the wine the hero.”

Such innovation is evident in the launch of McGuigan Wines latest release, The Semillon Blanc. McGuigan Wines is widely recognised as one of the world’s premier producers of traditional Semillon styles, but it is a fresh, new and innovative approach to Semillon that is really turning the variety on its head. The Semillon Blanc was created to provide an aromatic, textured and refreshingly crisp alternative to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Launched in the UK in 2010 the wine has already sold 64,000 cases and single-handedly doubled the Semillon category in that market. The Semillon Blanc was launched in Australia to great acclaim in mid 2011.

Founded in 1969 the International Wine and Spirit Competition is the premier competition of its kind in the world, attracting entries from over 80 countries across the globe.

For all media enquiries, interviews, images and samples, please contact Simone Higginson m. 0412 419 091 e. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.