Gruyere-based winery Medhurst Wines has won a gold medal in the coveted Sydney Royal Wine Show for its 2023 Yarra River Blend (YRB).
Announced by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW on Friday 22 August, the 2023 YRB scored 95 points in the red blends, 2023 and older category.
Medhurst Wines chief winemaker Rohan Smith was delighted to get the gold medal at a competition regarded for its tough competition.
“The Sydney Royal Wine Show is one of the premier wine shows in Australia. It’s always nice to win gold medals,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s recognition against other incredible wineries around Australia.”
“It’s incredibly competitive because you’re competing with everyone, not just people around the Yarra Valley.”
The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show, described by Mr Smith as one of the “sternest tests that a wine can go through”, had 1551 wines assessed, 103 gold medals awarded and 28 major trophies.
Mr Smith said the 2023 YRB was a half and half Shiraz and Pinot Noir mix achieved through a process called co-fermentation.
“What that does is it gives a real lovely perfume and vibrancy to the fruit in the wine.
“So typically this wine has lovely red and blue fruits, a lovely silky tannin and a really vibrant acidity and freshness of fruit.
“It’s a really lovely, approachable wine,” Mr Smith said.
Sydney Royal Wine Show chair of judges Mike De Luliis said this year’s Sydney Royal Wine Show was an example of the high standard in the wine industry at the moment.
“The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show results were a testament to the incredible variety of
outstanding wines that are on offer to consumers right now, whether you are looking for
something to drink tonight or that special bottle that will reward you after years in the cellar.”
The red blends category held some of the most unique and innovative wines at this year’s show, demonstrating the excellent product Medhurst had produced.
“A particularly exciting area of this year’s show were the red blend classes, where we’re
seeing some fantastic new blends being made with purpose and precision.
It’s a dynamic area of the Australian wine market at the moment, and we’re seeing a rise of new and innovative players,” Mr De Luliis said.
Mr De Lullis said all of the show’s entries had “undergone rigorous assessment” which meant the award-winners were the “best of the best”.
Mr Smith agreed and said it only further validated his efforts.
“The judges in a capital city show such as [the Sydney Royal Wine Show] are absolutely the best palates going around.”
Medhurst’s 2023 YRB achieved its profile through a co-fermentation process which saw it retain the slightly tannic texture of a typical Shiraz, while also getting the “beautiful elegance and perfume” from a Pinot Noir.
Mr Smith called it a “lovely juxtaposition” of a Shiraz and a Pinot Noir.
He said Medhurst Wines would continue to produce great wine as the vineyards were kept to the best quality.
“The old adage is that great wine comes from great vineyards. That’s the most important thing.”
