Orange’s Ross Hill Wines has been awarded the prestigious 2022 ‘Best in Show by Varietal’ at the London Wine Competition for the 2019 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Chardonnay.
The London Wine Competition attracts over 1300 entries from more than 36 countries, with Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon the top three varieties entered. The Show aims to ‘recognise, reward and promote wine brands that have successfully been created to identify with and target a specific wine drinker’.
“We are thrilled with this international accolade,” says Ross Hill’s owner and vigneron James Robson. “To be awarded this at the world’s leading wine show is testament to the quality and the coming of age or the Orange wine region.”
The 2019 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Chardonnay was made from grapes grown on their Griffin Road vineyard which sits at an elevation of 750 meters. The grapes were handpicked and whole bunch pressed to a combination of new and seasoned French oak barriques to build complexity, texture and to highlight the region’s natural acidity and fruit purity. With nine months of lees stirring the wine was racked off prior to the final blending of components for bottling.
“Since establishing the Ross Hill brand in 1994 we have worked towards making wines that are not only delicious, but reflective of our cool climate region. Our winemaker Luke Steel joined us in 2019 and to achieve such as result with his first vintage is testament to his winemaking experience as well as the vineyards and the whole Ross Hill team.”
Luke Steele’s winemaking experience extends across NSW, South Australia as well as the United States. Luke has worked at Lerida Estate, Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wines (in the US), Skillogalee and Jim Barry. During this time Luke’s wines have achieved an enviable record of awards and recognition. There are some lovely synergies evolving with this winemaking experience, Ross Hill’s vineyards and the unique region.
“It is a real privilege working with the team at Ross Hill,” comments Luke. “The attention to detail across the vineyard, devotion to quality in the winery and the pragmatic approach to sustainability is world class. The 2019 vintage was drought affected, so the crop was low, however the quality was outstanding, especially Chardonnay, reflective in this result in London.”
Distribution and pricing: The Ross Hill wines are distributed nationally by Domaine Wine Shippers and are available at www.rosshillwines.com.au
2019 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Chardonnay (Orange Region): $40
- Best in Show by Varietal, 2022 London Wine Competition
- Gold Medal, 2022 London Wine Competition
For further information, interviews and images please contact:
David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
Ross Hill Wines was established when Peter and Terri Robson purchased their property on Griffin Road on the outskirts of Orange. Twelve years later, their son James and his wife Chrissy moved to Orange to raise their young family and join the family business. James and Chrissy have taken over the reins of the day-to-day running of the winery business, with Peter still very much hands-on. In 2008 purchased their Wallace Lane property on Mount Canobolas with an old apple packing being converted to their state of the art, carbon neutral winery.