Winery toast of Australia

MOUNT Langi Ghiran winery has won the best premium shiraz award at the National Wine Show of Australia for its 2005 Langi Shiraz.

Winery marketing manager Aaron Drummond said the event was the most competitive wine show in the country.

"You are up against some very big producers and hundreds of them, there is a massive number of entries," he said.

Mr Drummond said Thursday's win was a surprise.

"It's certainly not something you expect to win because it's such a competitive field and shiraz is what Australia does, so to win at the national wine show for the best premium shiraz on the market is a very awesome endorsement," Mr Drummond said.

"Being western Victoria, we don't have the reputation that South Australians have for producing shiraz in places like the Barossa and McLaren Vale which always get the attention.

"But we're beating the South Australians so it's pretty good."

Mr Drummond said the show took place at the Grand Ballroom of Parliament House in Canberra.

"Our general manager Damien Sheehan and I attended the night," he said.

"It was an objective competition and we are happy with the result."

The win completes an excellent month for Mount Langi Ghiran which also won a gold medal in the 2007 Red Wines Class 24 shiraz category at the 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.

"We are a shiraz specialist; 80 per cent of what we make is shiraz so for us to win in this class is very important," Mr Drummond said at the time.

Seppelt Great Western Winery also won the Premier of Victoria's Gold Trophy at the 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show for its Jaluka 2006 chardonnay.