Australian wines are becoming more and more popular in many parts of the world, but it is here in Australia, of course, that you can pick and choose the finest Australian wines.

In New South Wales, where a number of wine regions have grown in prominence, the NSW Wine Industry Association highlights the top 40 wines from New South Wales each year, from which the best wines in several categories are named.


The list of 2006 award winners is here published as a guide for wine lovers everywhere.

Best NSW Wines

• Best Sparkling: Centennial Vineyards Methode Champenoise Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2004, Southern Highlands
• Best Young Dry White: Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2005, Tumbarumba
• Best Mature Dry White: Pokolbin Estate Riesling 2000, Hunter Valley
• Best Young Dry Red: Simon Gilbert Wines Prince Hill Shiraz 2005, Mudgee
• Best Mature Dry Red: Peterson's Glenesk Shiraz 2001, Mudgee
• Best Sweet White: Peterson's Botrytis Semillon 2004, Riverina

The Top 40

Sparkling

• Centennial Vineyards Methode Champenoise Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2004, Southern Highlands
• Charles Sturt University Limited Release Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV, Tumbarumba

Young Dry White

• Bidgeebong Icon Series Chardonnay 2005,Tumbarumba
• Elliot Rocke Estate Semillon 2005, Mudgee
• Freeman Fortuna Pinot Gris Blend 2006, Hilltops
• Helm Premium Riesling 2006, Canberra
• Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2005,Tumbarumba
• Logan Weemala Gewurztraminer 2006, Orange

• Two Rivers Lightning Strikes Chardonnay 2005, Hunter Valley
• Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon 2005, Hunter Valley
• Warraroong Estate Verdelho 2006, Hunter Valley
• Warraroong Estate Chardonnay 2005, Hunter Valley
• Word of Mouth Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Orange

Mature Dry White

• Logan Chardonnay 2004, Orange
• McGuigan Wines Personal Reserve Chardonnay 2002, Hunter Valley
• Mount Pleasant Museum Release Elizabeth Semillon 1997, Hunter Valley
• Mount Pleasant Museum Release Lovedale Semillon 1996, Hunter Valley
• Pokolbin Estate Riesling 2000, Hunter Valley
• Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon 1998, Hunter Valley

Young Dry Red

• Angullong Vineyard Shiraz Viognier 2005, Orange
• Jarretts Wines Fingers and Thumbs Shiraz 2004, Orange
• Kamberra Meeting Place Shiraz 2003, Canberra
• Mayfield Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Orange
• Mayfield Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Orange
• Mt Vincent Regional Range Shiraz 2004, Orange
• Nugan Estate Manuka Grove Durif 2005, Riverina
• Simon Gilbert Wines Prince Hill Shiraz 2005, Mudgee
• Tempus Two Pewter Zinfandel 2005, Orange
• Warburn Estate Premium Reserve Merlot 2005, Riverina
• Westend Estate 3 Bridges Durif 2004, Riverina

Mature Dry Red

• Long Rail Gully Shiraz 2002, Canberra
• McGuigan Wines Personal Reserve Shiraz 1998, Hunter Valley
• McWilliams Barwang Shiraz 2001, Hilltops
• Mount Pleasant Old Paddock Old Hill Shiraz 2002, Hunter Valley
• Peterson?s Glenesk Shiraz 2001, Mudgee
• Richfield Estate Reserve Shiraz 2002, Northern Slopes

Sweet Wine

• De Bortoli Noble One Semillon 2004, Riverina
• Lillypilly Noble Blend 2002, Riverina
• McWilliams Limited Release Botrytis Semillon 2004, Riverina
• Petersons Botrytis Semillon 2004, Riverina

The 2006 Top 40 New South Wales wines were selected from 782 entries, and are expected to form the basis of the wine list in the New South Wales Parliament House dining rooms in 2007.