Gralyn Estate is proud to share news of our recent success at the prestigious Sydney Royal Wine Show, where our flagship Artizan Rare Muscat was awarded the coveted J.C.M. Fornachon Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Fortified Wine. This recognition, in our 50th anniversary year, continues a remarkable run of accolades for our fortified wines and celebrates Margaret River’s place among the great winemaking regions of the world.
Article by Warren Hatley
Augusta Margaret River Times
Gralyn Estate has had a rare win at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, continuing the boutique Wilyabrup producer’s recent fine form.
Owners and winemaking duo Scott and Annette Baxter celebrated the win at the east coast show from July 28–31 that also featured other Margaret River region wineries.
The Gralyn victory continued the winery’s accolades for its rare fortified wine.
Gralyn was also among four platinum award winners from the region at June’s Decanter World Wine Awards.
The Sydney show handed Gralyn the coveted J.C.M. Fornachon memorial perpetual trophy for best fortified wine for the family-owned estate’s flagship Artizan Rare Muscat.
It was the first time a WA winery had scored the gong since the trophy was created in 1971.
The couple said it was extra special to win such acclaim in the winery’s 50th year:
“This is incredibly humbling,” they said in a joint statement.
“Fortified wines have been part of Gralyn’s story since the beginning, and for Artizan Rare Muscat to now sit alongside the legends of Australian fortified winemaking is a proud moment for our family and our region.”
Rather than the usual silverware, winners are presented with an oil painting by acclaimed artist Fred Williams titled Wooded Landscape, donated in 1971 by art dealer Rudy Komon. The giltwood frame carries the engraved names of every winner since 1980.
Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland congratulated the local wine sector after the region brought back 12 of the 28 trophies.
“These awards not only reaffirm Margaret River’s global reputation for world-class chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, but also showcase the quality of the region’s sauvignon blanc, semillon, chenin blanc, rosé and fortified wines,” she said.
