Queenslanders can toast another victory to close out the year after scoring a stunning win in the same city that kick-started the Queensland Maroons’ famous against-the-odds State of Origin series triumph in 2020.
In one of the state’s finer wins of the year, Q1908 ‘The Clubhouse’ took out the trophy for the best sauvignon blanc at the 2021 Adelaide Hills Wine Show.
Ten judges were impressed with the “divine” Q1908 sauvignon blanc, labelling the contenders a “strong class of wines with the top having vibrancy and freshness as well as complexity of fruit and texture”.
Ultimately though, there could only be one trophy awarded and that honour fell to ‘The Clubhouse’, launched in September this year and blended by renowned wine maker Ben Riggs in conjunction with Three Kings Wine Merchants.
Riggs knew he was onto something special when he spoke to QRL.com.au about the product.
"One of the great vintages… 2020 and 2021 are two of the best vintages I've ever seen for aromatic white wines like sauvignon blanc… they're quite amazing... passionfruit, just delicious,” Riggs said.
"These wines are actually pretty bloody good from a great year... sauvignon blanc is more about the year and the vineyard. The winemaking bit is nurturing what you pick off the vines.
“With a sauvignon blanc, the earlier you pick, the more herby, green vegetable, the fruit characters … the later you pick, the more tropical, melony, riper of fruit characters.
QRL chief executive officer Rohan Sawyer congratulated Riggs and Three Kings Wine Merchants on the award.
“To come away from the Adelaide Hills Wine Show with this title is an outstanding achievement and one that everyone involved with the ‘The Clubhouse’ can be immensely proud of,” Sawyer said.
“Adelaide is certainly becoming a good hunting ground for us. Fans who follow our Maroons still talk about that incredible win in the historic match at the Adelaide Oval last year.”
Sawyer said the Q1908 project had been an overwhelming success, even before the latest honours.
“The range of wines were developed as a means to further engage with both the QRL’s membership and corporate database,” Sawyer said.