Today McGuigan Wines is proud to say we're one of the most awarded wineries in the world.
We've come along way from our humble beginnings in the Hunter Valley, but we remain true to our winemaking heritage. To be the only winery in the world to have won 'world's best winemaker' three times is a testament to our commitment to quality.
2014 was another fantastic year for the McGuigan brand with an amazing amount happening for the team.
Below are just a few of the highlights:
• McGuigan Black Label Red remained Australia’s # 1 selling red wine by volume, cementing its place as Australia’s favourite red wine.
• Our flagship wine - McGuigan Philosophy – was launched to widespread acclaim. This super-premium Cabernet Shiraz blend from South Australia is the culmination of an 8 year project started by Chief Winemaker Neil McGuigan to produce a truly iconic Australian wine.
• Our partnership with NRL team the St George Illawarra Dragons continues to go from strength to strength, and we’ve also code-hopped to partner with AFL club Port Adelaide Power.
• The popular McGuigan Bin Series got a makeover and is looking great!
• Our Chief Winemaker Neil McGuigan was appointed President of one of the world’s most prestigious wine competitions, the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
• McGuigan signs a long term partnership with Chinese juggernaut COFCO – a real game changer for the brand in one of the fastest growing wine markets in the world!
Some fantastic awards have also been achieved throughout 2014, with numerous wins on a global level at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, International Wine Challenge and the Decanter World Wine Awards. Domestically the brand received 9 wines scoring over 90 points with James Halliday’s Wine Companion. Below is a brief overview of some of our fantastic achievements:
Best Semillon in the World – IWSC 2014
The Shortlist Chardonnay 2011 5 / 5 Glasses - 94 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
The Shortlist Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 5 / 5 Glasses - 94 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
The Shortlist Semillon 2007 4.5 / 5 Glasses - 92 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
The Shortlist Barossa Valley GSM 2010 4.5 / 5 Glasses - 90 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Expressions Sauvignon Blanc 2012 4 Glasses - 90 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Farms Barossa Valley Shiraz 2010 4.5 / 5 Glasses - 93 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Hand Made Shiraz 2010 4.5 / 5 Glasses - 90 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Bin Series Semillon 2012 4 / 5 Glasses - 93 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
The Shortlist Riesling 2005 Gold Outstanding IWSC
Bin Series Semillon 2006 Gold Outstanding IWSC
The Shortlist Semillon 2007 Gold IWSC
The Shortlist Riesling 2007 Gold IWSC
Bin Series Semillon 2010 Gold IWSC
The Shortlist Semillon 2007 Trophy Mundus Vini
The Shortlist Semillon 2007 Gold Mundus Vini
Hand Made Shiraz 2010 Gold Mundus Vini
Bin Series Semillon 2003 Gold International Wine Challenge
Bin Series Semillon 2005 Gold International Wine Challenge
The Shortlist Riesling 2010 Gold International Wine Challenge
The Shortlist Semillon 2007 Gold International Wine Challenge
McGuigan Wines continues to grow with the recent re-launch of the brand and a new marketing campaign 'Come on in' encouraging all walks of life to join the McGuigan Family. Alongside this, the launch of the Expressions and Founders Series ranges have seen the brand create new styles of red and white wine for a raft of new drinkers and have already received the below awards.
We're International Winemaker of the Year for the third time in four years, and the only winery in the world to have won this prestigious award three times. Amazing!
Naturally, we're extremely proud of the whole team!
Neil McGuigan takes great delight in being recognised as the White Winemaker of the Year for the second time in four years - the hero wine was our Shortlist Eden Valley Riesling!
39 wines entered - 39 awarded.
Another amazing year for McGuigan. We pick up International Winemaker of the Year and Australian Producer of the Year for the second time in three years. But we don't let it go to our heads.
McGuigan Wines launches the innovative Semillon Blanc in the UK market.
Our chief winemaker Neil McGuigan was challenged as to what is the next big thing from Australia. Fast forward a few months and The Semillon Blanc was born. A revolutionary new wine style that is fresh, crisp and lively. It is packed full of delicious fruit flavours that linger nicely on the palate and are complemented with a zippy, citrus finish.
It's a style of wine that you, the wine lover, have been demanding from Australia, and quickly goes through the roof in the UK more than doubling sales of Semillon in its first year!
A landmark, breakthrough year for McGuigan Wines.
The family's continuing dedication to creating great Australian wine sees us celebrate our very first major international awards. After taking home the title of White Winemaker of the Year we quickly 'do the double' by being award International Winemaker of the Year and Australian Producer of the Year. Our dedication to quality, consistency and innovation has borne fruit.
McGuigan Wines brings a living, breathing real life vineyard to the heart of Sydney. The result was spectacular! This was followed up in Melbourne and later in London where over 100,000 million viewers worldwide saw real life vines transform bustling metro commuter areas into a tranquil Aussie Vineyard.
In 2012 the City Vineyard world tour takes root in Dublin.
McGuigan Wines takes a major step partnering with Simeon Wines to become Australia's fourth largest winemaker. Crucially the McGuigan family retains control of the business with Neil, Fay and Brian McGuigan all committed to driving McGuigan wines ongoing success.
The McGuigan name is now found in the Barossa Valley.
Drawing on over one hundred years of winemaking heritage in the Hunter Valley, McGuigan makes a second home in the world renowned Barossa Valley.
McGuigan Wines as we know it now is started by Brian McGuigan and wife Fay. Younger brother Neil McGuigan brings his winemaking talents to the winery. Sharing in a love of good wine, passion, dedication and an unwavering commitment to quality wine, the trio are the driving force behind McGuigan Wines.
Thanks to Brian McGuigan and wife Fay's tenacious hard work, McGuigan Wines take on the world, breaking into over 20 different export markets. Shoe leather, boundless energy and quality wine help McGuigan become a pioneer of Australian wine exports.
The McGuigan name becomes synonymous with Australian wine's new wave. Brian McGuigan brings a fresh approach to winemaking and running a winery. First managing a highly successful Hunter Valley Winery and then building his own major wine business with the help of wife Fay and younger brother Neil.
Working his winery's cellar door in the early 70's Brian McGuigan wasn't the usual stand-offish winemaker. Keen to find out what wines and styles his customers enjoyed, Brian quickly becomes a champion of the wine consumer.
Later in life, Brian joins father Perc in being named a Hunter Valley Living Legend.
Perc McGuigan, a larger than life Hunter Valley figure, works his way up from tending vines to managing a major Hunter Valley winery where the cellar door was always open to new ideas and new friends.
At a time of great change in the Australian wine industry Perc was always at the forefront - passing his ideas down the family line to sons Neil and Brian.
In recognition of his role in shaping the Hunter's wine success Perc was inducted as a Hunter Valley Living Legend.
Owen McGuigan, father of Perc, makes his home in the Hunter Valley. Working the vineyards to supplement his dairy farm income Owen always found time to invite friends over and share a glass or two. His pioneering spirit and hard work laid the foundations for the McGuigan family's legacy.
