News

And the winner is...
23 August, 2011
Michael (Mike) Aylward of Ocean Eight on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, is the 2011 Young Gun of Wine, announced at Madame Brussels in Melbourne last night.

Mike was ecstatic with the announcement and said the award was a huge boost for Ocean Eight and thanked all the winery's supporters and his family and friends.

Also announced at the event, which closed the Young Guns of Wine Festival, was the winner of the People's Choice Award with Rory Lane of The Story taking out the popularly voted accolade.

"It's very humbling and gratifying to see people parting with their hard earned for our wines, and for small, independent producers in general," Rory said.

Judge Max Allen described his Syrahs as "just awesome. I love Rory's blend of youthful enthusiasm and deep respect for an old, traditional Australian wine region like the Grampians. And I'm obviously not the only one!"

Chief Judge of the award Nick Stock said Mike and Rory won the title amid a competitive field of Young Guns.

"It is a very difficult competition to judge because there are so many people doing such great things. It's a tough task to narrow down to 11 finalists and even more challenging to find one winner of the Award. All the Young Gun of Wine finalists are winners in a sense as the festival presents opportunity for them to get among restaurants, retailers and new consumers via the events," Nick said.

"The face of Australian wine has changed dramatically in the past few years and we are heading into very exciting territory. In the past five years this Award has championed and encouraged the most exciting collection of winemaking talent in this country."

Fellow judge Philip Rich was enthused by work of the finalists, claiming that 2011 was "The best Young Gun of Wine Awards yet.

"This year there was a diverse and vibrant lineup of wines from off-dry Tassie and Great Western Riesling to the minerally, refined Mornington Chardonnay and the best Barossa Shiraz Viognier I have tasted for some time. I take my hat off to all these young winemakers whose get up and go belies the tough times we are facing," he said.

Founder of the Young Guns of Wine Festival, Rory Kent said the Young Gun of Wine Awards recognise the best of young winemaking talent in Australia.
"The Young Guns of Wine project seeks to engage audiences with wine in new ways. The interesting outtake of Mike Aylward's and Rory Lane's wins are that they're both honoring and evolving the traditional - inspiring people with wine is not necessarily about innovation," he said.

For taking out the Young Gun of Wine, Mike is rewarded with an opportunity to sit on the judging panel to choose the 2012 Young Gun of Wine, and both Mike Aylward and Rory Lane receive a magnificent golden wine-bottle-cum-gun-barrel trophy created by Charlwood Design.

Mike joins past Young Gun of Wine winners, Matt Gant, Pete Schell, Colin McBryde, and Rollo Crittenden.

This year's 11 finalists hailed from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. The judging panel included Chief Judge Nick Stock, Young Gun of Wine Founder Rory Kent, Max Allen, Phillip Rich and last year's winner, Rollo Crittenden of Los Hermanos.
Tickets to the Awards Courtesy of A+
12 August, 2011
As proud supporters of the 2011 Young Guns of Wine Festival, A+ Australian Wine is excited to offer the chance to win one of two double passes to the Young Guns of Wine Awards to be held on the evening of August 22. To be in with a shot, simply visit the A+ blog, sign in or register so they can contact you if you are a winner, and post a comment on why you should attend the awards.

Be warned though, the Young Gun of Wine Awards is not a traditional wine trophy presentation event. No pomp, no ceremony, this is very much a celebratory occasion. Held cocktail style on the rooftop of Madame Brussels in Melbourne's CBD, with canapés and the 22 wines from the 2011 finalists for your sensory pleasure.

Who will take home the People's Choice and the 2011 Young Gun of Wine? And which winemakers know best how to party? See it for yourself: post your A+ Australian Wine comment now...
BRING IT..!
04 July, 2011
It might be the energy of our brightest young winemakers but it's hard to imagine that this is already our 5th annual Young Gun of Wine Award. The hunger and skill that has been recognised throughout that time makes an impressive group indeed - imagine if they hunted in packs!

Many of these high achievers have made a career of heading north of the equator to ply their skills and garner inspiration. And each year they bring back to Australia another season of experience, insight and inspiration, applying it to home grown grapes and crafting inspired results. It's a modern approach to success and we recognise the courage it takes to make that kind of commitment.

So once again, it's time to show no fear in the face of immense talent, as we present the fifth annual collection of hot young Australian winemaking talent to you via another exciting program of dinners and tastings, all culminating in the night of nights, the presentation of this year's coveted trophy for the Young Gun of Wine.

The top 11 in 2011 are:
Adam Wadewitz (Best's, Great Western)
Alex Head (Head Wines, Barossa)
Andrew Marks (The Wanderer, Yarra Valley and Emporda, Spain)
David Bowley (Vinteloper, Adelaide Hills)
Dylan McMahon (Seville Estate, Yarra Valley)
Elena Golakova-Brooks (Dandelion Vineyards and Cien Y Pico, South Australia and Manchuela, Spain)
Mike Aylward (Ocean Eight, Mornington Peninsula)
Nick Glaetzer (Glaetzer-Dixon, Tasmania)
Nick Spencer (Eden Road Wines, ACT)
Rory Lane (The Story, Grampians)
Sam Wigan (Running With Bulls, Barossa)
Checkout our about page to hear of the serious side to the search for the Young Guns of Wine.

NICK STOCK