In a historic achievement, Willunga 100’s 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache has captured three prestigious awards at the 2025 National Wine Show, including the Grenache Trophy, Best Red Wine of Show, and the Prime Minister’s Trophy. This marks the first time in the event’s 50-year history that a Grenache has secured the top honor.
The award-winning wine is sourced from Willunga 100’s own Blind Spot Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, South Australia. The vineyard, acquired in 2019, features over 60-year-old dry-grown bush vines planted in deep sandy soils. Since acquisition, the vineyard has been transitioning to organic viticulture, a process that has contributed to the wine’s exceptional quality, according to founder and director David Gleave.
Chief winemaker Renae Hirsch highlighted the significance of the win as a reflection of both vineyard stewardship and low-intervention winemaking practices. “To receive the Grenache Trophy, Best Red of Show, and the Prime Minister’s Trophy all in one year is credit to the work we do in the vineyard and the winery,” Hirsch stated. The 2023 Grenache, retailing at $30, showcases the variety’s capacity to deliver wines of elegance, depth, and a strong sense of regional expression.
Since its inception in 2005, Willunga 100 has been recognized for elevating McLaren Vale Grenache, a varietal historically undervalued in the market. The brand’s Single Vineyard range, drawn from distinct sites in Blewitt Springs and Clarendon, has positioned it as an innovator within the Australian wine industry.
The National Wine Show, open exclusively to wines that have previously won gold or silver medals at regional competitions, is regarded as one of Australia’s foremost wine exhibitions. Judged by a panel of respected wine critics and professionals, past recipients of the Prime Minister’s Trophy include Yarra Yerring’s 2021 Underhill Shiraz (2023) and Murdoch Hill’s 2022 Rocket Chardonnay (2024).
The acclaimed 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache is available for purchase via the official Willunga 100 website and select fine wine retailers. Tastings can be experienced at the Grenache Room, located in the restored Moritz family cottage at the Blind Spot Vineyard, offering visitors an immersive exploration of Grenache in its many expressions.
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