HILLTOPS HIGH FOUR AT 2025 CANBERRA WINE SHOW
If there is one clear trend to emerge from the 2025 Canberra & Region Wine Show, it’s Hilltops reds rock! Hilltops red wines collected four Trophies and especial praise from the chief judge Shanteh Wale for the calibre of the region’s dominance in the Sangiovese Class.
‘This is a beacon of excitement for the region. A fantastic class with the most consistent bracket of sangioveses I have judged.’
The lauded Class 13 recorded nine medals for Hilltops Sangiovese.
In total the judges at the Canberra & Region Wine Show awarded the Hilltops entrants six Top Gold Medals, four Gold Medals and 14 Silver Medals. In fact, 99 Hilltops GI wines were entered (the exact same tally as 2024) comprising about a third of the total 345 show entries with an impressive total medal strike rate of 63% for the Hilltops entries.
Hilltops Wine President, James Bowman, proprietor of Barwang Wines, believes in the strong alliance between the Canberra and Hilltops regions, highlighting that for two years in a row the Canberra Show results have confirmed the region’s impressively consistent viticultural reputation.
‘These accolades again showcase the commitment, skill, passion and innovative approach of Hilltops vignerons and other region’s winemakers, who increasingly seek out top quality grapes from our cool vineyards.’
‘For such a small region to score six Top Golds endorses our growing reputation for alternative red grape varieties ranging from tempranillo and graciano to sangiovese and malbec.
Bryan Currie, chief winemaker at Hungerford Hill, is a strong advocate for the Hilltops wine region and highlights its ideal terroir for emerging varieties especially sangiovese and lighter savoury red blends epitomised by the top performer Hungerford Hill Tempranillo Graciano.
‘The Hilltop’s stellar reputation for wines of the highest quality is undisputed. As vineyards mature and winemakers refine their techniques, varieties like sangiovese, tempranillo, graciano, fiano, touriga, nebbiolo and malbec will increasingly become the shining lights for the region.’
The Hilltops Trophy winners:
- Hungerford Hill Sangiovese 2024 – Best Sangiovese
- Hungerford Hill Tempranillo Graciano 2024 – Best Dry Red Other Varieties and/or Blends
- Hungerford Hill Tempranillo Graciano 2024 – Hilltops Wine of the Year 2024
- Shaw Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 – Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Top Gold & Gold Medals:
- Hungerford Hill Hilltops Malbec 2023
- Hungerford Hill Hilltops Sangiovese 2024
- Hungerford Hill Shiraz 2023
- Hungerford Hill Tempranillo Graciano 2024
- Linear Tempranillo 2024
- Mada Bit of Heaven Sangiovese 2024
- Moppity Lock & Key Riesling 2025
- Nick O’Leary Hilltops Shiraz 2023
- Nick O’Leary Seven Gates Tempranillo 2024
- Shaw Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
The Hilltops Wine of the Year 2025 and other medalists will be celebrated again in early December by the Hilltops Vineyards Association.
MORE INFORMATION
Jane Adams, Hilltops Wine
M 0417 733715
