The Young Gun of Wine (YGOW) winners for 2020 were revealed earlier this week, with five trophies presented for ‘Best New Act’ for the top newcomer, ‘Danger Zone’ recognising the most adventurous wine, the publicly voted ‘People’s Choice’ and peer voted ‘Winemaker’s Choice’ and the 2020 Young Gun of Wine.
This is the 14th year for YGOW, which searches for and celebrates Australia’s best young wine labels and emerging talent. This year saw the trophy presentation take place virtually, rather than the usual awards ceremony.
The 2020 trophy winners are:
- Young Gun of Wine: Dilworth & Allain (Macedon Ranges, VIC)
- Best New Act: Dilworth & Allain (Macedon Ranges, VIC)
- Danger Zone: 2019 Dhiaga Moscato (Swan Hill, VIC)
- People’s Choice: Gilbert (Orange/Mudgee, NSW)
- Winemaker’s Choice: Frederick Stevenson (Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills, SA)
Winners, Loïque Allain and Chris Dilworth from Dilworth & Allain, are based in Victoria and were praised for their 2018 ‘Cope Williams Vineyard’ Chardonnay and 2018 ‘Doug’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir.
YGOW founder Rory Kent said: “Dilworth & Allain have made a profound impression with their young label. This is only the second time in the 14 years of Young Gun that a maker has taken two trophies home at the one presentation.
“Loïque and Chris are a husband and wife team that do everything from farming and making truly exceptional wines right through to the artwork that adorns the labels. That their offering – in the eyes of our panel of industry experts – has been chosen as the most compelling from 50 of Australia’s best emerging winemakers is testament to just how good these wines are. And that they’ve done this in their first year is phenomenal.
“The Macedon Ranges is one of Australia’s coldest wine regions, but it is white hot right now. There’s a terrific new breed in Macedon, as the four makers in our Top 50 illustrate, making wine from exceptional fruit sources and employing a modern approach that is about exploring flavour and texture through minimal inputs and artisanal making, and Dilworth & Allain are the perfect perfect emblem for this group.”