Margaret River Wine Show lauds Stella Bella Wines among swag of sought-after trophies

International accolades aside, the Margaret River wine industry has celebrated its most important awards and added new names to its honour board. While many local producers were recognised at the awards, held at Lenton Brae’s refurbished cellar door on Friday, October 20, Stella Bella Wines were a highlight of the trophies and three individuals were recognised under specific awards. Howard Park Wines group vineyard manager Stephen Kirby received the Viticultural and Sustainability Excellence Award, Swings & Roundabouts’ sales and marketing manager Amanda Keady was acclaimed for the Cellar Door Excellence Award, and Georgina Harrison from Kaloorup Vineyard was honoured with the John Tate Memorial Innovation Award. The hardworking team of judges had their work cut out for them, as noted by chair Nick Ryan. “This year’s wine show has seen high expectations met and new benchmarks set,” he said. “The star of the show has once again been chardonnay, further reinforcing the new reality that sees Margaret River dominate the conversation around where the world’s best chardonnay is coming from.” But strong performances for cabernet sauvignon, and semillon and sauvignon blanc and their blends – as well as further advances in the rose category – were also hallmarks of recent vintages, Ryan said. Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland said the competition added “a bit of fun” this year by judging the seven gold medal-winning roses “in their natural habitat” at the White Elephant Cafe at Gnarabup. More than 630 wines went before the judges at the Margaret River Heart in the lead-up to Friday’s gala celebration. Among the winners, Stella Bella took home three trophies for its Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2022, receiving Best Chardonnay and Best White Wine as well as the Best Wine of Show. Stella Bella also capped off a stellar run by being winning the trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor. Chief winemaker Luke Jolliffe was thrilled at the Suckfizzle’s second successful outing at the wine show. “Recognition such as this for our single vineyard Suckfizzle Chardonnay is a testament to the whole team,” he said. “The passion in farming our land with care and precision, through to nurturing the wine from grape to bottle, shows a very special and cohesive viticultural and winemaking team. We are incredibly fortunate.” Among the other winners, Red Wine of Show and Best Cabernet Sauvignon was taken out by Abbey Vale’s Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, while Lenton Brae’s Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2012, 2015, 2023 won the Wine of Provenance trophy. Swings & Roundabouts Brash Road Syrah 2022 won the International Judge’s Trophy, while Mandoon Estate, Snake and Herring, Evans & Tate, Wills Domain, Xanadu Wines and Credaro all won in their categories, and McHenry Hohnen won twice in the Best Rose and Best Other Red Blend or Varietal.