HK IWSC 2017 Results Announced
Trophy Winners
Medal Winners
HK IWSC Announces Trophies for 2017 Best Wines & Spirits for Asia
Highlights: Thailand’s trophy triumph; Australia’s medal domination; Gin in the spotlight
10 November, 2017: (Hong Kong) The 2017 best wines and spirits for the Asian market have been announced at a Gala Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong by the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HKIWSC), which saw Thailand triumph, an ever-strong showing by Australia and vast increase in medals for USA, Austria and China.
A feature event at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair each year, the Awards Ceremony saw 61 trophies presented by Master of Wine Debra Meiburg, HKIWSC Director, to the winning wine and spirit producers from around the world in front of wine industry VIPs, media, international Consul Generals, and other dignitaries.
The hotly contested Asian food and wine pairing trophy results took everyone by surprise, with Asian wines winning seven out of 12 trophies – Thailand claimed four and Japan won three. Australia also took out three trophies in this category, with USA and Germany rounding out the food and wine pairing trophy list with one a piece. The showing was so strong by South East Asian wineries this year that a dedicated trophy category was added to recognize the best of these wines. (Full trophy list below).
[Food & Wine Trophy Highlights – Thailand Trumps]
Asoke Valley Winery was the star of the Thai contingent, picking up three trophies for three of its wines, including: Best Wine with Jiaozi (Pork Dumplings) – awarded to Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Heritage Syrah Viognier 2014; Best Wine with Braised Pig's Knuckle with Dried Oysters and Sea Moss – awarded to Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Sakuna Syrah Rosé 2017; and Best Wine from South East Asia – awarded to Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Verdelho 2017. Siam Winery took the other two food and wine pairing trophies for Thailand.
[Gin]
Gin was a major focus of this year’s competition, with VIP Guest International Judge, Desmond Payne, Master Distiller of Beefeater Gin, and the largest pool of gin entries ever received, up 247% on 2016. As such, two gin trophies were awarded – Best Gin (Kyrö Napue Rye Gin from Finland) and Best London Dry Gin (Southern Wild Distillery Dasher + Fisher Mountain Gin from Australia). It is the second year running Australia has snared a trophy for its top quality gin.
[Australia’s Trophy Highlights]
Australian wines secured six of the 11 coveted Best Varieties trophies, with McWilliam’s Family Wines scoring a double triumph with its Evans & Tate Redbrook range, which picked up trophies for Best Cabernet/Cabernet Blend and Best Chardonnay. Australia Vintage Limited was also a double trophy winner, taking out Best Sauvignon Blanc (Nepenthe Petraea Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2016) and Best Semillon (Tempus Two Copper Zenith Hunter Valley Sémillon 2004). The Tempus Two is a triple trophy winner in this category, claiming the title in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (with different vintages).
[Medal Highlights]
Australia again led the medals charge, topping the leader board with 430 medals, with New Zealand and France tied for second. China gained 51 medals, a significant increase of 39 more than 2016. Austria increased its 2016 medal haul from 29 medals in 2016 to 47 in 2017. USA gained a total of 46 medals, more than doubled its 2016 results.
[Judging Highlights]
A record 49 judges from 11 Asian countries in 2017, offering significant diversity and depth of pan-Asian expertise into the deciding the best beverages for the Asian market. 5 Masters of Wine from Asia, including Sonal Holland MW from India, Ying Hsieh Tan MW from Singapore, Kenichi Ohashi MW from Japan, Sarah Heller, the newest Master of Wine from Hong Kong, as well as Debra Meiburg MW from Hong Kong. VIP International Judge of HKIWSC 2017 includes Johann Fourie, Head Winemaker, Benguela Cove Wine Estate and Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate from South Africa, and Desmond Payne, Master Distiller, Beefeater Gin, United Kingdom.
[Entry Highlights]
Approximately 2,000 entries of wines and spirits. 33 countries entered wines and 27 entered spirits, with a 30% increase in spirits entries. Of these, there was a 247% increase in gin entries (largest growth category for spirits by volume). There was a significant increase in French and Asian spirit entries and Chinese Baijiu saw five times the entries compared with 2016.
[Full Trophy Results]
Trophies | Wine Name | Producer/Company | Country |
Wine Varietal Trophies | |||
Best Cabernet/Cabernet Blend | Evans & Tate Redbrook Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 | McWilliam's Wines Group | Australia |
Best Chardonnay | Evans & Tate Redbrook Margaret River Chardonnay 2014 | McWilliam's Wines Group | Australia |
HKTDC Best Pinot Noir | Wakefield Taylors Family Wines Jaraman Pinot Noir 2016 | Wakefield Taylors Family Wines | Australia |
Best Sauvignon Blanc | Nepenthe Petraea Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2016 | Australian Vintage | Australia |
Best Sémillon | Tempus Two Copper Zenith Hunter Valley Sémillon 2004 | Australian Vintage | Australia |
Best Syrah/Shiraz | Wolf Blass Platinum Shiraz 2010 | Wolf Blass Wines | Australia |
Best Grüner Veltliner | Weingut Meinhard Forstreiter Grüner Veltliner Ried Kremser Kogl Kremstal DAC 2016 | Weingut Meinhard Forstreiter | Austria |
Best Riesling | Weingut Baumgartner Riesling Ried Heiligenstein DAC Reserve 2016 | Weingut Baumgartner | Austria |
Best Indigenous Grape Variety | Kir Yianni Diaporos 2013 | Kir Yianni SA | Greece |
Best Tempranillo | CVNE Imperial Reserva Rioja DOCa 2012 | C.V.N.E | Spain |
Best Merlot/Merlot Blends | Cakebread Cellars Merlot 2014 | Cakebread Cellars | USA |
Best Regional Wines | |||
Best Wine from Argentina | Bodega Navarro Correas Alegoria Gran Reserva Malbec 2013 | Bodegas Trapiche SA | Argentina |
Best Red Wine from Australia | Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2014 | Wolf Blass Wines | Australia |
Best White Wine from Australia | Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2010 | Tahblik | Australia |
Best Wine from Austria | Weingut Jurtschitsch - Riesling Zöbinger Heiligenstein Kamptal DAC Erste Lage 2015 | Weingut Jurtschitsch Sonnenhof | Austria |
Best Wine from Chile | Vina La Rosa Cornellana Icon 2009 | Vina La Rosa SA | Chile |
Best Wine From China | CITIC Guoan Niya Berries Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 | Citic Guoan Wine Industry | China |
Best Wine from Eastern Europe | Marcus Rynsky Ryzlink Pozdni Sber 2008 | Narodni Vinarske Centrum, o.p.s. | Czech Republic |
Crown Wine Cellars Trophy Best Wine From France | Domaine François Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 2014 | Domaine François Carillon | France |
Best Wine from Germany | VDP.Weingut Bürgerspital Würzburger Riesling 2016 | Weingut Buergerspital | Germany |
Best Wine from Italy | Marchesi di Barolo - Barolo Cannubi 2013 | Cantine dei Marchesi di Barolo | Italy |
Best Wine from New Zealand | Cobblestone Vineyards Te Muna Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 | Cobblestone Vineyards | New Zealand |
Best Wine from Portugal | Adega de Pegões Alicante Bouschet 2014 | Cooperativa Agricola Sto.Isidro de Pegoes CRL | Portugal |
Best Wine from South Africa | Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2015 | Babylonstoren | South Africa |
Best Wine From Spain | Bernard Magrez Herencia del Padri Priorat DOCa 2012 | Bernard Magrez | Spain |
Best Wine from South East Asia | Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Verdelho 2017 | Asoke Valley Winery | Thailand |
Best Wine From USA | Castello di Amorosa QUATTRO Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 | Castello di Amorosa | USA |
Best Style Classes | |||
Best Worldwide Fortified Wine | De Bortoli Old Boys 21 Years Old Tawny NV | De Bortoli Wines | Australia |
Best Dessert Wine | Schloss Gobelsburg Eiswein Grüner Veltliner 2016 | Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg | Austria |
Best Methode Traditionalle Sparkling Wine | Piper-Heidseick Rare 2002 | Piper-Heidseick | France |
Best Dessert Wine from South East Asia | Hatten Wines Pino De Bali NV | Hatten Wines | Indonesia |
SHTM HK PolyU Trophy Best Charmat Method Sparkling Wine | SCAVI&RAY Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Superiore | MBG International Premium Brands GmbH | Italy |
Best Sake | Saito Junmai Daiginjo | Asia Euro Wines & Spirits Hong Kong | Japan |
Best Rosé Wine | Marisco Vineyards The Ned Pinot Rosé 2017 | Marisco Vineyards | New Zealand |
Best Asian Food & Wine Pairings | |||
Best Wine with Jiaozi (Pork Dumplings) | Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Heritage Syrah Viognier 2014 | Asoke Valley Winery | Thailand |
EAST, Hong Kong Trophy Best Wine with Golden Prawns in Salted Egg Yolk | Château Mercian Nagano Chardonnay 2015 | Château Mercian | Japan |
Best Wine with Crispy Chicken | VDP.Weingut Domdechant Werner, Hochheimer Riesling Classic 2016 | Weingut Domdechant Werner | Germany |
Best Wine with Braised Pig's Knuckle with Dried Oysters and Sea Moss | Asoke Valley Winery GranMonte Sakuna Syrah Rosé 2017 | Asoke Valley Winery | Thailand |
Best Wine with Japanese Sea-Salt Grilled Red Snapper | Château Mercian Mariko Vineyard Rosé 2016 | Château Mercian | Japan |
Best Wine with Otoro Sushi | Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Colombard 2016 | Siam Winery | Thailand |
Best Wine with Vegetable Tempura | Pegeric Pinot Noir 2009 | Pegeric Wines | Australia |
Best Wine with Prawn Vindaloo | Pegeric Pinot Noir Late Picked Sweet Style 2008 | Pegeric Wines | Australia |
Best Wine with Lo-Hei Yu Sheng (Raw Fish Salad) | Hokkaido Wine Tsurunuma Pinot Blanc 2013 | Hokkaido Wine | Japan |
Best Wine with Cua Lot Cuon (Soft Shell Crab Rice Rolls) | Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier 2016 | Pine Ridge Vineyards & Seghesio Family Vineyards | USA |
Best Wine with Crispy Thai Fried Fish | Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Chenin Blanc Late Harvest 2017 | Siam Winery | Thailand |
Best Wine with Ko Mu Yang (Grilled Pork Neck with Spicy Tamarind Sauce) | Shottesbrooke Estate Series McLaren Vale GSM 2015 | Shottesbrooke Vineyards | Australia |
Best Spirits | |||
Best Grape Brandy | St Agnes XO 15 Year Old | Angove Family Winemakers | Australia |
Best London Dry Gin | Southern Wild Distillery Dasher + Fisher Mountain Gin | Southern Wild Distillery | Australia |
Best Spirit from China | Chongqing Jiangji "Joyouth" | Chongqing Jiangxiaobai Liquor | China |
Best Gin | Kyrö Napue Rye Gin | Kyrö Distillery Company | Finland |
Best Armagnac | Armagnac Castarede Gustave Eiffel Extra XO | Armagnac Castarède SA | France |
Best Cognac | Louis Royer Cognac Extra | Louis Royer SAS | France |
Best Liqueur | Komasa Jyozo Komasa No Umeshu | Komasa Jyozo | Japan |
Best Shochu | Komasa Jyozo Mellowed Kozuru Migaki | Komasa Jyozo | Japan |
Best Worldwide Whisk(e)y | Hombo Shuzo Mars Cosmo Blended Malt Whisky | AF Trade Limited | Japan |
Best Blended Scotch Whisky | Dewar's 15 Year Old - The Monarch Blended Scotch Whisky | John Dewar & Sons | Scotland |
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Under 15 Years Old) | Old Pulteney 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Asia Euro Wines & Spirits Hong Kong | Scotland |
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (No Age Statement) | Aberlour A'bunadh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Chivas Brothers | Scotland |
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Over 15 Years Old) | Aberlour 16 Years Old Double Cask Matured Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Chivas Brothers | Scotland |
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Over 25 Years Old) | Highland Park 30 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Edrington Hong Kong Limited | Scotland |
Best Rum | Chalong Bay Rum - Pure Series | Premium Thai Brands | Thailand |
- ENDS -
