Barossa winemaker John Duval’s red wine served at White House

Paolo Sebastian wasn’t the only SA icon on show at the White House. One of our top winemakers also left an impression.

Renowned South Australian winemaker John Duval might not have dropped into Wednesday’s White House Dinner, but his wine made a splash.

Long Shadows Sequel Syrah. Picture: Supplied

Barossa winemaker John Duval

His 2019 Sequel Syrah, a wine by Long Shadows winery, accompanied the chocolate and hazelnut mousse cake dessert served with ice cream at the black-tie event where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon – dressed by SA’s Paolo Sebastian – were the guests of honour.

Jodie Haydon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the event. Picture: Jonathan Ernst

The shiraz, which is sold for about $US60 (A$95) was designed by Duval, who was chief winemaker at Penfolds from 1986 until 2003, when he left to start up a family business, John Duval Wines.

It was around that time that Duval first made Sequel Syrah at the invitation of the late Allen Shoup, who was the retired CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle.

Shoup, who died in 2022, had asked leading winemakers from around the world to be part of his Long Shadows project in Washington State.

They were to make an American wine from grape varieties that they had worked with in their homelands. For Duval that was syrah, also known as shiraz, at the Wallula Vineyard, in Columbia Valley.

Long Shadows full-time winemaker Gilles Nicault, John Duval and Sequel Syrah grower Bill Denhoad at the Wallula Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington State USA. Picture: Supplied

Duval said the 2019 Sequel Syrah was “well structured” and “full bodied”.

“It was a very good season,” he said. “There were no excessively hot spells and the grapes were very good quality.”

US wine critic Jeb Dunnuck has described the 2019 Sequel Syrah as “sexy”.

“The 2019 Syrah Sequel is a big, rich, meaty, powerful beauty offering copious amounts of ripe black fruits as well as ground pepper, chocolate, graphite, and spicy oak all soaring from the glass,” he said.

“It packs a punch, as always, with its ripe, sexy style, yet it shows the cooler, elegant style of the vintage beautifully and is balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish.”

Barossa winemaker John Duval. Picture: Advertiser Library

Duval’s wines from his time at Penfolds would, no doubt, have been enjoyed by many dignitaries around the world.

However, he was not aware of any of his wines having been served at a White House state dinner – until now.

While the 2019 Sequel Syrah is not available in Australia, the 2017 vintage is imported and retails for a little over $100 on Wine Square.

Originally published as Barossa winemaker John Duval’s red wine served at White House