It was this week awarded two trophies at the NSW Small Winemakers Show, including the Winetitles Trophy for best boutique red wine and the Riedel Trophy for best shiraz 2009 and older.

Winburndale has enjoyed remarkable success in recent months with its Solitary Shiraz releases, with the 2009 vintage now joining the 2008 as a multiple award-winner.

The 2009 Solitary Shiraz had previously been named the best wine of the region, Champion Local Wine of the Show, and top shiraz at the 2010 National Cool Climate Wine Show in Bathurst, while the 2008 vintage was this year awarded second place in Winewise magazine’s prestigious championships.

Winburndale’s Mike Burleigh, who only learned of the wins when contacted by the Western Advocate, said the two vintages were the result of consecutive outstanding crops at their St Anthony’s Creek Road vineyard.

“The 2009 is a very worthy successor to our 2008 Solitary Shiraz,” Mr Burleigh said.

“It is a lovely forward wine, very similar to the 2008, and is drinking so beautifully now.

“The 2009 has the typical shiraz flavours of blackberry and black cherry – beautiful fruit and a wonderful nose.”

Mr Burleigh said the Small Winemakers Show was a well-regarded event with some of the best judges in the business.

This year’s panel included chairman Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines in the Hunter Valley, assisted by Mike De Iuliis (De Iuliis Wines), Deb Pearce (wine writer), Bryan Martin (Ravensworth Wines), Jeff Byrne (Audrey Wilkinson Wines) and Tom Ward (Swinging Bridge).

“We have won medals in the show before but this is the first time we’ve been awarded trophies,” Mr Burleigh said.

“This shows that we really are producing some very good wines right here in Bathurst.”

NSW Small Winemakers Show this year received 573 entries from 98 small producers that crush a maximum of 500-tonnes annually.

All the other trophy winners came from the Hunter Valley, Southern Highlands and the Riverina.

The 2009 Solitary Shiraz will be available soon from the cellar door for $30 a bottle. It will also be sold through local bottle shops.