The 2022 Vineyard of the Year Awards Top 50 has just landed. The 50 finalists include 26 from South Australia, 10 from Victoria, seven from New South Wales/ACT, one from Tasmania, four from Western Australia, one from Tasmania, and the first from Queensland – Brad Hutchings’ Savina Lane on the Granite Belt.
The Vineyard of the Year Awards were created in 2020 to place vineyards across the nation at the heart of the Australian wine story, and the heart of the Australian wine community. With more than 6000 grape growers, picking the top vineyards in Australia is no easy task. The judges narrowed the field to the 50 that best exemplified the values of sustainability, innovation, provenance and growing great wine.
To judge the awards, a group of leading experts on viticulture were enlisted to personally review all the applicants. Dan Falkenberg, Kerry DeGaris, Kim Chalmers and Melissa Brown joined Max Allen in arriving at a very exciting Top 50. That we can showcase 50 such diverse and inspiring vineyards is a testament to the strength of Australia’s grape growing community. These vineyards are the source of some the best wines in Australia.
“We all know great wines start in the vineyard, and so do sustainable and regenerative philosophies,” said awards panelist Melissa Brown. “Our soils, and the biodiversity within and surrounding it, we nurture not only for the vines that grow upon it, but also for the improvement of the land for future generations. These awards are important because not only do they highlight our great vineyards and the fruit they produce, but they especially recognise the significance of these vines being farmed sustainably. Congratulations to the Top 50 – all worthy winners!”
Beside celebrating the achievements of 2022’s Top 50, there are four trophies to be awarded. The winners will be announced by June 2023. Over the coming months, younggunofwine.com will release a profile of each of these vineyards, and the viticulturists/growers behind them. The Vineyard of the Year Awards are brought together with support and the shared vision of our partners: AME Group, Corteva, Netafim, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Roundwood Solutions, Stoller and Wine Guns for Hire.
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