Tasmanian Chardonnay Named Best White Wine in the World

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has just announced the Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2018 from Tasmania’s Coal River Valley as their Champion White Wine for 2020. In total the wine picked up five trophies: Champion White Wine 2020, International Chardonnay Trophy, Australian White Trophy, Australian Chardonnay Trophy and Tasmanian Chardonnay Trophy.

 It’s the first time a Tasmanian wine has collected the Champion White Trophy and the first time in seven years the Trophy has gone to an Australian producer.

 The wine, one of Australia’s most renowned single vineyard wines, scored 97 points beating wines from 53 countries and was only one of four wines in the whole competition to score 97 points.

 Now in its 38th year the IWC is seen to be the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential annual wine competition, based out of the UK.

The IWC judges described the Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay as: “Bright lemon yellow with a subtle, elegant and restrained aroma of lemon sherbet and fruity mineral tones on the nose. Pristine and angular, yet delicate on the palate with well-balanced oak. Long textural finish with beautiful poise, balance and charm.” 

 Winemaker Adam Wadewitz said: “Our philosophy has always been to grow the best grapes we possibly can in the best possible sites and the Tolpuddle Vineyard continues to punch above its weight year after year. It’s a very special place.”

Last year, Tolpuddle’s 2017 Chardonnay was awarded the Tasmanian Chardonnay Trophy, Australian Chardonnay Trophy, and Australian White Trophy, also with 97/100 points.

 The Tolpuddle Vineyard, located in the Coal River Valley just 20 minutes outside of Hobart, is recognised as one of the finest vineyards in the island state and Australia and planted solely to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, first established in 1988. 

  Since acquiring the 20-hectare vineyard in 2011 after a road-trip to Tasmania, Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW have invested heavily in improving all aspects of the vineyard and are fully committed to seeing it recognised as one of Australia’s greatest single vineyard sites. The vineyard is named after the Tolpuddle Martyrs whose ‘reward’ for starting England’s first agrarian union was to be transported to Tasmania as convicts.