A McLaren Flat vineyard has taken out the prestigious President’s medal from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

Shottesbrooke Vineyards was one of six finalists in the wine, dairy and food award, announced in Sydney last week.

Judge Michael Bullen says Shottesbrooke embodies everything the Medal stands for.

“The President’s Medal is the pinnacle of our competition calendar. It is an award that advances the concept of quality beyond taste, setting new standards in best practice for environmental, social, and economic management.”

The vineyard was established in 1981 and is now in the hands of the second generation, producing world-class wines that are distributed around the world.

The other finalists were Pecora Dairy, Tathra Oysters and Sunshine Meats, from New South Wales; Stockyard Beef, from Queensland; and Rio Vista Olives, from South Australia.

They were selected from more than 4000 entrants and 81 Sydney Royal Champions awarded throughout the 2021 Sydney Royal year, undergoing extensive judging, including an on-site review.

The judges said Shottesbrooke was passionate about championing the McLaren Vale region.

“Their efforts to go above and beyond in minimising environmental impact and innovating with sustainability initiatives such as bringing back native flora and fauna were exceptional.”

Full details of the 15^th Annual President’s Medal can be found on the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW website.