Recently, at the prestigious, world-renowned Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition, a panel of 56 judges, sampling wines from 38 participating countries, awarded the 2022 Sevenhill Inigo Riesling as the Best Dry White Wine in Australia.
Congratulations to winemaker, Will Shields, General Manager, Jonathan O’Neill, Vineyards Manager, Craig Richards, and all the dedicated winery staff for producing such an excellent wine.
The 2022 Inigo Riesling comes from three unique blocks on the Sevenhill property, with each parcel cold fermented separately, using three different yeast strains, with the intent of focusing primarily on fruit vibrancy and purity. The final product is a true reflection of provenance, a classic Clare Valley Riesling: bright aromas of lime, citrus, mineral and orange blossom, with white stone fruit flavours on the palate.
The award-winning 2022 Sevenhill Inigo Riesling.
In very challenging times for the wine industry in Australia, with an embargo on importing the wines to China and the diminishment of the sales of sacramental wine through COVID to parishes in Australia and overseas, the Cellars Board is also to be commended on its steerage of the winery ever so creatively and professionally with its recently developed and Province-endorsed Nine Years Strategic Plan.
The winery, the first in the Clare Valley, South Australia, was built on the ingenuity, industry and vision of the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers who first came to the Clare Valley in 1848. Next year, Sevenhill celebrates the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the first Jesuit, Fr Aloysius Kranewitter.
Seven Jesuit Brother winemakers established a fine tradition for quality wine at Sevenhill, now being continued by lay colleagues. It is heartening and exciting to see this tradition being continued with the recent achievement, as the winery is moving into a new era of making quality wine and reworking the vineyards and refurbishing the Cellar Door.
The winery is part of the unique Jesuit mission in regional Australia, a threefold ministry thrust, combining parishes [Sevenhill/Clare, Riverton/Manoora], the Sevenhill Retreat Centre and the Cellars. The site welcomes between 40- and 50,000 visitors annually. A Master Plan is currently being developed for the whole site of Sevenhill to assist the future growth, coordination, and cohesion of each of the ministries.
Brendan J Kelly SJ
Superior – Sevenhill Jesuit Community
Visit the Sevenhill Cellars website for more information on this award-winning wine.
Feature photo: Sevenhill Cellars