DESPITE the debilitating drought which has caused production to be halved at Grove Estate Wines, owner Brian Mullany has beaten the odds, winning a top gold medal at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show for his Cellar Block Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2006.

This show is one of Australia’s finest and respected wine shows, with 2,590 entries from 379 wineries from all over the country competing for the prestigious awards.

Mr Mullany said he was extremely pleased with the award, and will continue to enter the wine in more shows.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “It’s a lovely wine and very worthy of the award.

“Now we hope to go on to do better at the Canberra National Show in a couple of months.”

He contributed his success to the large amount of time and effort dedicated to growing the grapes and using the correct techniques, as well as their wine maker, the acknowledged Shiraz specialist, Tim Kirk.

“Tim is one of the best wine makers in Australia, coming runners up in Australian Wine Maker of the Year for the last two years running,” Mr Mullany said.

The winning 2006 Reserve Shiraz, with a dash of co-fermented Viognier, follows on from the trophy winning Grove Estate Shiraz wines of the past three years. It opens with an opulent aroma of ripe fruit and classic Shiraz spice.

Reviews of the wine have described it as, “full but elegant, ribbed with spice, long and seductive,” and “peppery, cool and aromatic throughout”.

Mr Mullany said that although the quality of the Grove Estate grapes is still good, the quantity has dropped by 50 per cent, which he said has been financially crippling.

He said they are unable to irrigate, due to lack of water, but are continuing to keep the vineyard as healthy as possible.

“I just hope this award can bring some exposure to the great wines we have at Grove Estate and maybe this win will help us financially.”