Western Australian wineries have made a significant impact at the 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards, claiming six top honors. This prestigious event recognizes the highest standards in Australian wine production and showcases the best wines from across the nation.
Despite strong competition from South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, WA wineries excelled this year. Of the 19 trophies awarded, eight went to Western Australian producers. These included two from the Swan Valley, one from the Geographe region, and four from Margaret River.
Driftwood Estate’s Single Site Chardonnay 2023 was awarded multiple trophies, including Best Chardonnay, Best White Wine, and Best Western Australian Wine.
Mandoon Estate from Swan Valley received the Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine for their Reserve Sparkling 2016.
Talisman Wines in Geographe won the Trophy for Wines of
Provenance Best Red or White Varietal with their Riesling 2023.
West Cape Howe Wines was recognized with the Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc for their Mount Barker Sauvignon Blanc 2024.
Torrent Wines, a small Italian-style winery from Swan Valley, earned the Trophy for Best Dry White Varietal for their La Famiglia Chenin Blanc 2019.
Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 was awarded Best Cabernet Sauvignon.
The awards, held over four days, saw 1,200 wines evaluated by a panel of 26 experts and 15 stewards. The judging panel assessed entries from 141 exhibitors, focusing on aspects such as color, clarity, bouquet, and palate characteristics.
Western Australia had the largest representation at the awards, with 41% of entries coming from the state, followed by South Australia (29%), New South Wales (19%), Victoria (10%), and Queensland and Tasmania (1% each).
Chief judge Courtney Treacher praised the diversity and quality of Australian wines. “Chardonnay continues to impress with its energy and balance. Shiraz and Pinot Noir classes also stood out for their freshness and variety,” she noted. Treacher, who is concluding her term as chief judge, will be succeeded by Steve Flamsteed in 2025.
International judge Corrine Mui highlighted the global potential of WA wines. “Wines with a soul and a story stood out. WA’s offerings, particularly in Shiraz, Riesling, sparkling, and Cabernet, have great potential in markets like Hong Kong and Asia,” Mui said. “I hope to see more WA wines in these international markets.”
The Perth Royal Wine Awards have once again showcased Western Australia’s exceptional wine industry, reaffirming its reputation on the global stage.
