Clare Valley red wins big VINUS International Wines and Spirits Competition – and it’s just $34

The family-owned South Australian winery is on top of the world after taking out a top international award with a wine that’s well within a normal household budget.

Winemaker Mitchell Taylor with chief winemaker Adam Eggins. Picture: Supplied

A family-run Clare Valley winery has taken out a top gong at an international competition for a red wine costing just $34.

Taylors Wines was awarded the Champion Red Wine Trophy at the VINUS International Wines and Spirits Competition in Argentina, the third year in a row it has won at the awards.

A jury of international wine experts rated the winery’s $34 Jaraman Shiraz from 2022 highly against more than 560 entries from 19 different countries.

The drop scored a near-perfect 99-point rating at the global wine competition.

Taylors managing director Mitchell Taylor, who is also a third generation winemaker, said the win came following a period of hardship for the industry.

“We’ve just had two major frosts that made a big impact on our state, we’ve had the punitive tariffs from China for three years and we had this big oversupply in Covid so it’s been really tough,” Mr Taylor said.

Winemaker Mitchell Taylor celebrating the win. Picture: Supplied

Taylors Wines Jaraman Shiraz 2022 was highly praised at the awards.

Taylors also won top exhibitor at the competition, with the Best Series of Five Wines award.

Of the top 10 wines of the competition, four were from the South Australian label.

When the wine was being produced, Mr Taylor said he knew “it was just terrific”.

“We’ve learned to continually improve our craft and we’ve managed to stick together as a team,” he said.

“It’s good to get this international recognition and Clare is a world class region.”

Originally published as Clare Valley red wins big VINUS International Wines and Spirits Competition – and it’s just $34