Overview
Among the many ways to decide which wine next swirls around your glass, then across your tastebuds, Australia's Young Gun of Wine stands out. Since 2007, the awards have thrown some love at up-and-coming wine labels and winemakers across the nation, and not just because they make top-notch vino. These accolades take into account the whole story behind their tipples of choice each year — and 2024 now has its top 50.
"Every year, we're seeing new ideas from the emerging talent, and they're shaping the environment that we get to enjoy. It's also not just about the products — it's the learnings that peers can take from their adventurous winemaking. It's also how they're presenting, labelling and talking about their work — how they're connecting with wine professionals and consumers," said Rory Kent, who founded YGOW, about 2024's picks.
"That's why, uniquely and since day one, the wines for the Young Gun of Wine Awards are not tasted blind. These awards are as much about vision and leadership as they are about the quality of wine in the glass."
2024's top 50 spans drops from around most of Australia. Victoria is home to more spots on the list than anywhere else with 20, followed by South Australia with 17. New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory account for six wine labels and winemakers, Western Australia for four and Tasmania for three. The range also goes big on new names, which covers half of the finalists.
This is the 18th year that YGOW has taken place, with the top 50 just one element. Now that Kent and his fellow 2024 judges — Jeremy Shiell from Winespeake, winemaker Meg Brodtmann, wine critic Nick Stock, Atlas Vinifera's Abby Moret and Orbis Wines' — have shared their favourites, winners of the accolades' six annual trophies will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 18.
Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission
The Young Gun of Wine is the overall prize, while the Winemaker's Choice is a peer-chosen gong, Best New Act goes to a first-time finalist, Danger Zone to a boundary-pushing wine product, and The Vigneron to makers who show love in tending to their land and vines.
The People's Choice award is self-explanatory, and currently open for votes until Tuesday, June 18.
Visit Victoria
Young Gun of Wine 2024 Top 50:
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory:
Agitate (Andrew Ling)
Aristotelis Ke Anthoula (Tony Zafirakos and Maddison Park-Neilson)
Intrepidus Wines (Chrissie Smith)
Linear Wines (Nathan Brown)
M&J Becker Wines (Meagan and James Becker)
Sabi Wabi (Peta Kotz)
South Australia:
Agricola (Callum Powell)
Alpha Box and Dice (Sam Berketa)
Cape Jaffa Wines (Giulia Fiorovic and Federico Pezzino)
Curator Wine Co (Daniel Zolotarev)
Guthrie (Hugh Guthrie)
J & S Fielke (Jemma and Steven Fielke)
Jean Bouteille Wines (Jean-Baptiste Courdesses)
Kenny Wine (Andrew Kenny)
Mountadam (Caitlin Brown)
Parley Wine (Melissa Woods and Sarah Feehan)
Poppelvej (Uffe Deichmann)
Saltfleet Wines (Kyle Egel and Jonny Cook)
Scanlon Wines (Harry Scanlon)
Turon Wines (Turon White)
Wangolina (Anita Goode)
Worlds Apart Wines (Louis Schofield)
XO Wine Co (Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann)
Tasmania:
Aunt Alice (Alice Davidson)
Marco Lubiana (Marco Lubiana)
Utzinger Wines (Matthias Utzinger)
Victoria:
Alessandro Stefani (Alessandro Stefani)
Alkimi Wines (Stuart Dudine)
Allevare (Lucy Kendall and Alysha Moscatt)
ECK Wines (Emily Kinsman)
Gum Wine (George McCullough)
Honky Chateau (Chris Ryan)
Jones Winery & Vineyard — J6 Wines (Benjamin Jones)
Juliard Wines (Jules Morey and Bernard Morey)
Little Frances (Erin Frances Pooley)
Mac Forbes Wines (Hannah Maltby)
Meredith Wines (Ben Luker)
Mise En Place Wines (Doug Lilburne)
Musical Folk (James Becker)
Nomads Garden (Ben Dahlenburg)
Patch Wines (Matt Talbot)
Port Phillip Estate (Tim Perrin)
Portsea Estate (Matt Lugg and Will Ross)
Scion (Rowly Milhinch)
Tillie J Wines (Tillie Johnston)
Werkstatt Wine (Bridget Mac)
Western Australia:
Fervor (Callum Garland)
Chalari Wines (Alexi Christidis)
Mon Tout (Nic Bowen and Richard Burch)
Vallée du Venom (Rhys and Emma Parker)
For more information about Young Gun of Wine, head to the awards' website. 2024's winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 18.