Queenslander Tops Australian Wine Awards

At Winestate magazine's 30th anniversary presentation dinner in Adelaide last night (27.11.08) southern wine snobs were in for an upset when one Queenslander romped home with top honours. Here is a highlight of the blind tasting of 10,000 wines:

• Trophy for Wine of the Year of the Award went to Heritage Estate 2007 Chardonnay (a category which is open to red and white wines, it's the first time in 13 years a white wine has won and the first time ever a Queensland has won)
• Trophy for the Top Chardonnay for Australia & NZ - Heritage Estate 2007 Chardonnay

Heritage Estate's Granite Belt based winemaker John Handy (son of owners Bryce & Paddy Kussulke) was in Adelaide for the presentation. John is one of the the Queensland wine capital's young gun winemakers whose performance at wine shows is commanding attention on the national stage.

Earlier this year Wine Busines Magazine referred to the Granite Belt as the title Northern Wine Capital, a rebadging of the Granite Belt's promotional tagline as being the Queensland wine capital potential. For full results click here For Heritage Estate click here