In Melbourne last night Jeremy Oliver, Australia’s leading wine communicator, announced his Wine of the Year at the launch of the 2009 edition of his best-selling Australian Wine Annual. After personally tasting more than 6,000 Australian current release wines, Jeremy Oliver has surprised even himself by naming as his best Australian wine tasted for the past year as the Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2007. This represents the first time that a riesling has ever won this prestigious title, which has typically been given to a red wine. Last year’s winner was Henschke’s Hill of Grace Shiraz 2002. Stepping up to receive the award was Seppelt Great Western winemaker Joanne Marsh, who was instrumental in making the wine alongside chief winemaker Emma Wood, who was unable to attend the presentation dinner because she has just recently become a mother for the first time. Jeremy Oliver said: ‘It is a pleasing reflection of the modern Australian wine industry that women grape growers and wine makers regularly receive this level of recognition. When I began writing about it 25 years ago there was just a handful of women making Australian wine.’ ‘On behalf of Emma and the rest of our team, I happily share Jeremy’s surprise that a riesling was given this award. But I am also saddened that thanks to the severe frosts prior to the 2007 season, we made but 100 dozen of this incredible wine’, said Joanne Marsh. Jeremy Oliver says he has absolutely no regrets having made his decision, saying it was clearly the stand-out wine of the year. Scoring a remarkable 98/100, the Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2007 is the ninth wine to be awarded Jeremy Oliver’s Wine of the Year. The other nine finalists were Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2006 (97), Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2007 (97), De Bortoli Yarra Valley Reserve Syrah 2006 (97), Giaconda Chardonnay 2006 (97), Tintara Blewitt Springs Shiraz 2005 (97), Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (96), Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz 2005 (97), Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz 2004 (97), Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2006 (96). The 2009 edition of The Australian Wine Annual is available in book retail stores on Tuesday 14th of October, and will be available via this website from today.
