Grampians winery wins the iconic Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the 2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards
02 Dec 2021 / Wine
Victoria’s Fallen Giants Winery, 2019 Shiraz was awarded the iconic Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red at the 2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards Trophy Presentation at Melbourne Showgrounds on Thursday 2 December.
The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy is the Australian wine industry’s most coveted prize, awarded annually to the best one or two-year-old red wine and is named after the legendary Jimmy Watson who championed table wine at his Carlton wine bar.
The Fallen Giants 2019 Shiraz also won the trophies for Best Victorian Shiraz and the highly regarded Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz.
Remarkably, Fallen Giants has a strong connection to the late, great, Trevor Mast with the Fallen Giants vineyard having previously been part of Mount Langi Ghiran, during Trevor Mast’s time as their Chief winemaker. The vineyard was purchased by Rebecca and Arron Drummond and renamed Fallen Giants in 2013.
This year, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards acknowledged the contribution of the late, Dr Tony Jordan. Most notably, Dr Jordan founded Domaine Chandon Australia in the Yarra Valley in 1985, establishing one of Australia’s most celebrated and successful sparkling wines.
Melbourne Royal was pleased to award the inaugural Best Sparkling Wine trophy in Dr Tony Jordan’s name, honouring his lifetime of work, many achievements and lasting contribution to the Awards. Dr Jordan’s wife, Michele presented the inaugural Dr Tony Jordan Trophy for Best Sparkling to Wicks Estate for their 2015 Pamela Chardonnay Pinot Noir.
The François De Castella Trophy for Best Young White was awarded to Tasmania’s Tolpuddle Vineyard for their 2020 Chardonnay, with the same wine also being awarded The Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine and the team behind it the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence. Tolpuddle’s Viticulturalist, Murray Leake, and Vineyard Manager, Carlos Souris, were recognised as being part of the team behind the grapes that produced the Douglas Seabrook Single Vineyard Trophy-winning wine.
For the sixth consecutive year, The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir was awarded to a Tasmanian Winery with Lowestoft Winery being recognised for their 2020 La Maison Pinot Noir.
Yarra Valley winery, Giant Steps was awarded the trophy for Champion Victorian Winery, presented by the Victorian Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas. This trophy recognises the winery’s top four scoring wines, with Giant Steps coming out on top after receiving four gold medals and the trophy for Best Red Blend with their 2019 Yarra Valley Syrah Carignan Grenache.
Reflecting on the success of the awards, Melbourne Royal CEO, Brad Jenkins was thrilled that the 2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards could proceed this year to recognise and celebrate the best Australian wines and wineries.
“The Melbourne Royal Wine Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in Australian wine making. The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy is the trophy wine makers from all around Australia want to win and Melbourne Royal congratulates Victoria’s Fallen Giants Winery on being the 2021 winner.”
“Along with the Jimmy Watson trophy, the Francois De Castella, Trevor Mast and James Halliday trophies are some of the most respected winemaking awards in the country and are recognised both nationally and internationally,” said Brad.
“Winning a trophy in the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards can be a game changer for a winemaker and winery. The Melbourne Royal seal of excellence provides great marketing value to winners as it has significant cache in the wine industry and with consumers.”
Following the introduction in 2019 of state-based trophies for Shiraz, the 2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards saw the inclusion of best state-based trophies for Chardonnay, with the Yarra Valley’s Oakridge Wines being awarded Best Victorian Chardonnay.
The winners of each state trophy were tasted off against each other to award the trophy for Best Chardonnay, with Tolpuddle first winning the Best Tasmanian Chardonnay, and overall category trophy of Best Chardonnay with their much-acclaimed 2020 Chardonnay.
Melbourne Royal Wine Awards Committee Chair, Samantha Isherwood saw the successful delivery of the 2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards as a highlight of the year.
"To see the judging and presentation of the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards go ahead has indeed been a highlight of 2021.”
“Tasting wines from all regions of Australia completely independent, with integrity and professionalism is so important to the grape growers, viticulturalists, wine makers, distributors, restaurateurs, retailers and consumers,” said Sam.
“Congratulations to all producers who entered, the judges, stewards and the Melbourne Royal team who made this happen," concluded Sam.
Conducted by Melbourne Royal since 1884, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards provide producers with a valuable opportunity to benchmark their wines against industry standards, seek advice from an independent panel of experts, and promote and market award-winning products using the Melbourne Royal seal of excellence.
“The Melbourne Royal Wine Awards provide Australian winemakers with a unique and valuable platform to leverage their success locally and internationally by incorporating the Melbourne Royal seal of excellence in marketing and on packaging”, concluded Brad.
The full list of this year’s trophy winners can be viewed below.
2021 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards Trophy Winning Wines
The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red
Fallen Giants, Shiraz - 2019
The Francois De Castella Trophy for Best Young White
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay - 2020
The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz
Fallen Giants, Shiraz - 2019
The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
Fogerty Family Wines Lowestoft, La Maison Pinot Noir – 2020
The Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine Presented by Seabrook Wines
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay - 2020
The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified Wine
Morris Wines, Cellar Reserve Topaque NV Muscadelle
The Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence
Murray Leake, Viticulturalist and Carlos Souris, Vineyard Manager, Tolpuddle Vineyard
Dr Tony Jordan Trophy for Best Sparkling
Wicks Estate, Pamela Chardonnay Pinot Noir – 2015
Champion Victorian Winery Presented by the Minister for Agriculture
Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
Best Semillon
Tyrrell's, Belford Semillon - 2017
Best Chardonnay Presented by Plumm
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay - 2020
Best Riesling Presented by MCC Labels
Henschke, Julius Riesling - 2021
Best Sauvignon Blanc Presented by Portavin Integrated Wine Services
Scarpantoni Estate, Sauvignon Blanc - 2021
Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
Longview Vineyard, Queenie Pinot Grigio – 2021
Best Single Varietal White
Small Victories Wine Co, Vermentino - 2021
Best White Blend
Hanging Rock Winery, 'The Jim Jim Three', Pinot Gris Gewurztraminer Riesling - 2021
Best Sweet White Wine
Deen De Bortoli, Botrytis Semillon - 2018
Best Rosé
Turkey Flat, Rose Grenache - 2021
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Thompson Estate, The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon - 2019
Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Deep Woods Estate, Cabernet Merlot Malbec – 2019
Best Single Varietal Red
Bleasdale Vineyards, Second Innings Malbec - 2020
Best Grenache Presented by Portavin Integrated Wine Services
Pinnacle Drinks, The Ethereal One, Fleurieu Grenache – 2020
Best Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Majella, Musician - 2019
Best Red Blend Presented by Kubota Australia
Giant Steps, Yarra Valley Syrah Carignan Grenache - 2019
Best Organic Or Biodynamic Wine
Tscharke, Gnadenfrei White Grenache Blanc – 2020
Best Victorian Shiraz
Fallen Giants, Shiraz – 2019
Best South Australian Shiraz
St Hugo, Barossa Shiraz - 2019
Best NSW/ACT Shiraz
Lerida Estate, Cullerin Syrah - 2019
Best Western Australian Shiraz
Fermoy Estate, Shiraz - 2019
Best Tasmanian Shiraz
Not Awarded
Best Queensland Shiraz
Not Awarded
Best Victorian Chardonnay
Oakridge, 864 Funder And Diamond - 2019
Best South Australian Chardonnay
Shaw + Smith, Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay - 2020
Best NSW/ACT Chardonnay
Not Awarded
Best Western Australian Chardonnay
Deep Woods Estate, Single Vineyard Chardonnay - 2020
Best Queensland Chardonnay
Not Awarded
Best Tasmanian Chardonnay
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay - 2020
Consistency of Excellence (2018, 2019 and 2021)
Exhibits of the same label that have been awarded a gold medal at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards for three consecutive years (2018, 2019 and 2021) are awarded a Consistency of Excellence Medal.
- Tyrells Vineyards, Belfords Semillon - 2019
- Flametree Wines, Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay - 2020
- Grant Burge Wines, Grant Burge 20 Year Old Tawny Port, NV Blend
- Morris Wines, Morris Wines Old Premium Topaque, NV Muscadelle
- Tolpuddle Vineyard, Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay - 2020
- Xanadu Wines, Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon - 2019
- Majella Wines, The Musician by Majella Cabernet Shiraz - 2019
