Edwards Wine Judged Amongst the World’s Best
Edwards Wines has triumphed over a stellar array of Australian and New Zealand wineries after being awarded Australia’s best Sauvignon Blanc in the respected Winestate Magazine Wine of the Year awards.
The accolade is the latest in a string of recent awards for red and white styles achieved by the esteemed producer based in Margaret River, Western Australia.
Edwards was awarded the Smorgon Cyclone Trophy for its 2006 Sauvignon Blanc and was only pipped at the post for the gold by Marlborough, New Zealand producer Saint Clair.
Three of the other runner-up wines also originated from Marlborough, which is today recognised as the one of the world’s finest regions for producing the popular white varietal.
However the Edwards Wines Sauvignon Blanc was the only winning wine selected from an Australian region.
The Winestate Awards follow the blind tasting of more than 10,000 wines by magazine judges over a 12 month period.
They are decided after a re-tasting of wines that have achieved a rating of four-and-a-half or five stars during the year. All the tastings are conducted blind using strict wine show protocol.
The awards are a tribute to the winemakers of Australia and New Zealand who are producing some of the world’s finest wines in a variety of styles.
Edwards Brothers Delighted with Their Trophy
“We are thrilled by the recognition and the trophy,” said winemaker Mike Edwards. “The 2006 was a fabulous wine and it just goes to show Margaret River is more than capable of matching it with New Zealand in the variety.
“Margaret River is better known for its fine Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends, but this demonstrates Sauvignon Blanc can also be very good as a stand alone style.
“We have persisted with straight Sauvignon Blanc at Edwards, because we believe with the right conditions and hands-on viticulture and winemaking the area can produce superb examples of the style,” he said.
The 2006 Margaret River vintage was one of the coolest on record and this assisted Edwards to produce a more vibrant, delicate and distinctly varietal wine that ultimately beat out many of the best in Australia and New Zealand.
“There’s no doubt that the cooler, extended ripening season helped us achieve heighten quality and really attractive characters in the wine,” said Mike’s brother, viticulturalist Christo Edwards.
A Combined Effort in the Vineyard and Winery
Both brothers agree that along with the cool weather conditions in Margaret River it was a united effort in the vineyard and winery that resulted in their inspiring win.
“Timing is everything when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc,” said Mike. “If you pick it too early you run the risk of a more astringent overly grassy wine, while if it’s picked too late it can take on slightly unattractive, cloying tropical characters.
“That’s why it is important that the grape is picked at just the right time and then carefully managed in the winery.
“Ideally SB from Margaret River has vibrant acidity with really attractive gooseberry, citrus fruit with hints of herbaceousness and even flinty characters, and I think that’s exactly what the judges detected in our wine. We are really delighted with the outcome,” he said.
Tradition and Innovation
With each passing vintage the vineyards and winemaking have been improved by brothers Christo and Michael Edwards, so that today the wines are among the best emerging from the region. This in turn has translated into healthy demand in both national and international markets.
Christo and Mike are the sons of the late Dr. Brian Edwards who established the Margaret River vineyard with plantings in 1993. Today the Edwards vineyard consists of 120 acres of vines with varieties including Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dr Edwards was a highly respected physiotherapist, educator and aviator, and was widely recognised when he flew his vintage Tiger Moth “Matilda” on an epic journey from England to Australia to raise money for charity in 1990.
Brian passed away in 2003 after a long battle with leukaemia. His bright yellow biplane holds pride of place in its own hangar on the property surrounded by the vines.
The level of excellence being achieved with Edwards wines was further boosted recently when the winery’s 2006 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc has selected by Qantas airlines to be served in its Business Class section.
