A Yarra Valley wine, the 2017 Willow Lake Vineyard Chardonnay from A. Rodda Wines, won the Langton’s James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge for the first time since the challenge began in 2012.
Scoring a total of 97 out of 100 points, the chardonnay produced by Adrian Rodda from grapes grown on the Upper Yarra Valley Willowlake Vineyard near Gladysdale, took out the top wine award from 543 other chardonnay wines entered into this year’s challenge from 36 regions.
Although the Yarra Valley is home to the Langton’s James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge, the region had not yet won the top gold of the competition until this year.
Adrian said to win the top wine of the Yarra Valley class was an achievement in itself, given the number of quality wines from the region.
“To then come out on top against the rest of the country is truly remarkable, and very humbling,” said Adrian.
“This result, first and foremost is a testament to the Willowlake Vineyard and the hard work of the viticulturalist Tim Wray and his crew to grow such high quality chardonnay.”
“I feel privileged to make wine from such a special place and region.”