Alternative varieties and regional heroes shone as the Langhorne Creek Wine Show celebrated 10 years on the national wine show circuit.

The awards ceremony on Friday 17 May saw 200 grape growers, winemakers, trade, suppliers and winery staff get together for a regional celebration of the end of the vintage in a marquee on the lawns of Bleasdale Vineyards.

The host vineyard took out Champion Wine of Show, while Bremerton Wines won Producer of the Year with an impressive five trophies across traditional and alternative varieties.

In a fitting end to his time at Bleasdale Vineyards, outgoing winemaker Paul Hotker’s skills with Malbec were on show once again, with the Bleasdale 2022 Generations Malbec awarded the New Holland Agriculture Best Malbec trophy and ultimately taking home the Multi-Color Corporation Champion Wine of Show. 

New Bleasdale senior winemaker Matt Laube has worked with Paul for 15 years and accepted the trophy on behalf of the team.

Chair of Judges Sue Bell was joined by wine writer Dave Brookes and Riley Harrison from Harrison Wine, as well as associate judges Sam Rowlands, Tyler Follett and Jordan McAnaney for the 2024 judging.

“The 2021 and 2022 vintages are showing very strong, with a special nod to the Malbec class - a variety that Langhorne Creek can really hang its hat on,” Sue Bell says.

“The balance of poise, fruit and tannin of the Bleasdale 2022 Generations Malbec came out on top, but not without stiff competition.”

Bleasdale and Paul Hotker also won the Cooperages 1912 Best Blended Red Wine trophy with the Bleasdale 2022 Frank Potts Cabernet-blend.

In a solid effort across numerous award categories, Bremerton Wines and Rebecca Willson took home the Orora Closures’ trophy for best Cabernet Sauvignon for the Bremerton 2022 Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon; Project Wine Pty Ltd’s best Shiraz trophy for the Bremerton 2021 Selkirk Shiraz; and the Jon Burke Creative Digital Video trophy for best red or white made from alternative or other varieties for the Bremerton 2022 Special Release Graciano.

Bremerton also received the Chair of Judges trophy from Sue Bell for the Bremerton 2023 Special Release Mourvèdre.

The FrostBoss Best Sparkling Wine, White Wine or Rosé trophy was awarded to the Lake Breeze 2023 Reserve Chardonnay; the Daish Irrigation / Netafim Best Museum or Fortified trophy went to Treasury Wine Estates’ Pepperjack 2016 Porterhouse Graded Langhorne Creek Shiraz, while Dale Wenzel was named Peats Soil & Garden Supplies Grape Grower of the Year, recognising his contribution to the Langhorne Creek wine region.