Ben Haines from Mitchelton Wines in Victoria was named The Wine Society’s 2008 Young Winemaker of the Year

The award is presented annually by The Wine Society to the most outstanding Young Winemaker aged 30 years or under in Australia and New Zealand.

One of Victoria’s most prominent winemakers, Ben was awarded the accolade by industry icons for his Blackwood Park Riesling 2008 and his Print Shiraz 2006. Iain Riggs of Brokenwood, AUS, Brian Walsh of Yalumba, AUS, John Belsham of Foxes Island, NZ, and Tom Carson of Yabby Lake, AUS, tasted and judged 2 wines from each of the 10 Finalists, before deciding that Ben was the winner of the prestigious award.

Helen McCarthy of Taylors Wines has won
The Wine Society’s Members Choice Award for 2008

Members from around Australia cast their vote to determine this year’s consumer favourite, The Members Choice Award. Helen won the coveted award for her 2005 Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Jaraman Shiraz.

Helen was a finalist at last year’s awards and was a strong leader in the member voting from the outset. Ron Corby, Acting CEO of The Wine Society, said: “Helen dominated this award from the beginning, commanding victory from five of the six Members’ Choice road shows around Australia. Wines were tasted in both warm and cool climates and these spectacular wines stood out to our members among some of Australia and New Zealand’s best wines. Helen has done a great job to take the title of Members’ Choice against all the competition.”

Malcolm Rees-Francis of Rockburn Wines has won The Wine Society’s Sommeliers Choice Award for 2008

Malcolm is the first New Zealander to win a Young Winemaker award, who was awarded the accolade for his 2007 Rockburn Pinot Gris and 2007 Rockburn Pinot Noir. The Sommeliers’ Choice was judged by 10 of Australia’s top sommeliers from across the country in a blind tasting. Malcolm was nominated for this year’s awards by his Senior Winemaker and was the first time he had entered the competition.

This year’s award attracted entries from over 50 winemakers in Australia and New Zealand who submitted a total of 159 wines.

The other young winemakers to win trophies presented by
The Wine Society were:

Luc Cowley – Auntsfield Estate, NZ
Greer Carland – Winemaking Tasmania, AUS
Greg Clack – Chain of Ponds, AUS
Matt Evans – De Vine Wines, NZ
Angela Miranda – Orlando, AUS
Anna Pooley – Heemskerk, AUS,
Stuart Marfell – Vavasour Wines, NZ

Congratulations to Ben, Helen and Malcolm and all of our finalists.