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Brokenwood Semillon Named World’s Best At Decanter World Wine Awards
3 September 2004

Hunter Valley winery Brokenwood has done Australia proud at the inaugural Decanter World Wine Awards in London, taking out the Trophy for Best International Under £10 Varietal White Wine.

Brokenwood Semillon 2003 was named the Best Australian Under £10 Varietal White before competing against seven other countries to win the International Trophy for this division. More than 2,000 wines were entered in the under £10 category and the Brokenwood Semillon was the only wine across the whole competition to achieve a score higher than its over £10 counterpart.

The Decanter World Wine Awards is a global competition that judges wines in two price bands - under £10 and over £10. There are 4,500 wines from thirteen countries entered in the Awards, making it one of the largest international wine competitions in the world. Wines retailed at under £10 compete for “best value” trophies, thus providing credible recommendations for wine consumers. Wines are judged on a regional level to reflect regional styles, in price brackets to promote value for the consumer and by experts to recognise outstanding quality.

Brokenwood was one of 13 Australian winners at the award, and in addition to the two trophies was also awarded three medals; a Gold for the 2002 McLaren Vale Rayner Vineyard Shiraz, Silver for the 2002 Orange Forest Edge Chardonnay and Bronze for the 2001 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz.

The International Trophies will be officially announced at the Decanter Awards Party in London on Wednesday September 15. Managing Director of Brokenwood Wines, a very proud Mr Iain Riggs, will travel to London to accept the trophies.

“These trophies celebrate Brokenwood’s status as a premium producer of Semillon, and we couldn’t be more delighted. Hunter Valley Semillon is a unique, world class expression of the variety and the Decanter Trophies cement our belief that Brokenwood Semillon is one of the best examples of this style,” said Mr Riggs.

Decanter enlisted some of the world's most respected experts to judge the regional panels under the leadership of Chairman Steven Spurrier, consultant editor to Decanter and author of a number of wine books. Each judge is chosen for his/her specialist knowledge of a specified area and oversees a team of judges also chosen for their in-depth knowledge. A thorough understanding of a regional style is crucial for recognising outstanding quality rather than simply rewarding wines crafted specifically as 'competition' wines.

Brokenwood Wines deliver the best expression of regional varietal character from the premium regions of Australia through the passion, care and craftsmanship employed in every stage of the wine making process.