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London Wine Competition’s Winery of the Year

A family-owned winery that ran away with the plaudits at the 2020 London Wine Competition.

The McLaren Vale region in Australia has long been known as an area that produces wines of the highest quality. Close to the town of Adelaide, it is known for its dry reds, especially those made from Shiraz, Mourvedre, and Grenache. Shiraz accounts for about 50% of the area’s production making it the most important wine varietal of this region. 

Many of the wineries in this region are family-owned wineries that have tended to vineyards for generations and are renowned for their wines. There is one family in particular that has galvanized this movement if we can use that word, with a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. The Osborn family is one of the most respected and revered families involved in winemaking today. 

The Osborn family came to the world of wines in a very peculiar manner. Joseph and Mary Jane’s third son Frank decided to lead a life on the land. His father Joseph, an accomplished horse racer, on hearing this decided to sell his fortunes earned from horse-racing to buy the d’Arenberg property in McLaren Vale. Just a year later in 1913, Frank Osborn harvested his first vintage. Since then, the Osborn family has never looked back.

d’Arenberg, Source Facebook

The reigns of the winery were taken over from Frank by d’Arry Osborn. After the great war, he decided that it was his time to look after the vineyards and take the legacy of d’Arenberg wines forward. With tractors, electricity, and more people coming to the family, d’Arry Osborn got recognized with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 1978 for the family’s contributions to the Australian winemaking industry. 

 Fast forward to this past year and the Osborn family added another feather to the d’Arenberg family cap as it went on to win the Winery of the Year award at the 2020 London Wine Competition. There were seven wines from the winery that triumphed at the competition. One of their icons The Dead Arm won a total of five awards, the most by a bottle of wine at the competition. 

The Dead Arm: A classic McLaren Vale Shiraz, The Dead Arm is a vintage consisting of plum, blackberries, and liquorice. The impressive amount of concentration, the tannins, and the acidity all are in perfect symphony. The spices entwined with the dark, earthy notes all work to give you the best shiraz. With a score of 97 points, The Dead Arm saw itself top all the charts in the competition. It won:

• Wine of the Year

• Best in Show by Country 

• Best in Show by Varietal

• Best Wine by Quality

• Gold Medal

d’Arenberg, Source Twitter

The Footbolt: d’Arenberg’s 2017 Shiraz, The Footbolt was also awarded a gold medal at the competition. The aromatic nose of plum and red berries prepares you for a luscious palate consisting of flavours like mulberry, pomegranate and dried herbs. A tastefully rich wine, The Footbolt has a wild and rustic finish. Interestingly, named after one of Joseph Osborn’s horses Footbolt, the pride of his stable.

d’Arenberg, Source Facebook

The Coppermine Road: A stylish and sophisticated Cabernet Sauvignon, The Coppermine Road has excellent balance and symphony. The nose has notes of cedar, sage, oregano and ferrous notes followed by blackcurrant, boysenberry and more. Medium-bodied and generous, there are hints of tomato and capsicum flavours to this wine. The Coppermine Road stands tall in a selection of reds to come from d’Arenberg.

d’Arenberg, Source Facebook

The Laughing Magpie: This Shiraz, Viognier blend, named after the Kookaburras, who have fondly been nicknamed, the laughing magpies, by the youngest clan members. The first-ever meld from d’Arenberg and its silver medal at the 2020 London Wine Competition has shown that they are doing it right. The flavours of flowers, ginger and stone fruit make for an enticing mix that helps elevate this dark red wine. 

The Money Spider: A NASAA certified organic wine, The Money Spider is a vintage Roussanne. Vibrant and textural, this silver-medal winning white has aromas of peach, banana, lemon and honeydew melons. Its palate is a little tropical with flavours of nectarine, citrus and green mangoes. Rich and textural, this is one exotic white that will surely tingle your taste buds.

d’Arenberg, Source Facebook

The Dry Dam: Granny Smith apples, jasmines, limes and lemons lead the nose of The Dry Dam Riesling. Interestingly, named after a dam that their neighbours built, they believe is a blessing in disguise. It has helped yield good results for d’Arenberg’s old and dry grown vines. Fresh and zesty, this riesling retains an excellent balance of sweetness and intensity. 

The Derelict Vineyard: Oozing purple fruits, great depth and a remarkable ageing ability define The Derelict Vineyard Grenache. An abundance of blueberry, plum, liquorice and more make for a fruity nose. The palate of this 2018 vintage is juicy with a seam of crunchy tannin. Should you decide to drink it immediately, make sure that the wine breathes in the glass.

d’Arenberg, Source Facebook 

Apart from these seven wines, d’Arenberg also has a spectacular range of whites, reds and roses that will tantalize your taste buds. Apart from its award-winning wines, the winery has a lot more to offer. The d’Arenberg Cube, their five-storied building, is a major attraction. It houses their tasting room which provides a panoramic view of The Willunga Hills and the Gulf St. Vincent. Masterclasses, an art gallery, alternate realities museum and the chance to blend and bottle your wine complete a luxurious experience. 

Browse their entire selection and choose from some of the best wines produced in the world. Make sure you follow their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handle to stay updated with their latest wines, their newest accomplishments and breathtaking photographs of their winery and surrounding areas. 

From Frank Osborn to d’Arry and now Chester Osborn, who took over the reins as chief winemaker in 1984, d’Arenberg has come leaps and bounds in their winemaking journey. They stand as the epitome of a winemaking family and their fascinating journey is one that is lauded with their award-winning wines.

The London Wine Competition is a premier wine competition where wines get judged on their value, quality and packaging. It is the perfect platform for producers and importers to assess their wines, with the judging panel consisting of reputed wine experts.

Header Image Source: Facebook

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