Vasse Felix Wins Wine Enthusiast 'New World Winery of the Year'

Vasse Felix was among 16 Wine Star Award winners honoured by leading USA publication Wine Enthusiast at a black-tie gala in Miami on Monday 29 January.

Vasse Felix owner, Paul Holmes à Court, was in attendance to collect the 'New World Winery of the Year' trophy at the awards gala, taking the opportunity to thank Wine Enthusiast for the tremendous honour. 

“We are thrilled to have Wine Enthusiast recognise Vasse Felix and Margaret River in our 50th year. We’ve grown together from a doubtful 8-acre vineyard planted by Tom Cullity in what was then a remote dairy-farming town, to an internationally renowned wine estate in fifty short years. This award belongs to everyone who has worked to make Vasse Felix what it is today,” Paul Holmes à Court said.

The Margaret River wine estate was one of five nominees from major international regions, surpassing estates from Stellenbosch (De Toren), Auckland (Kumeu River), Argentina (Trapiche) and Chile (Vina Ventisquero), to receive the coveted award.

Wine Enthusiast Editor and Publisher, Adam Strum said the awards recognise leaders within the beverage industry.

“Vasse Felix has lead Margaret River in quality since the beginning. They have consistently raised the bar for their region with outstanding, long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon and complex, multifaceted Chardonnay. Additionally, the current team with Virginia Willcock at the winemaking helm, continues to take the winery to new heights,” Adam Strum said.

Vasse Felix is the first Margaret River and West Australian winery to receive the US publication’s award, joining only three previous Australian winners; Penfolds (2013), Yalumba (2009) and Clarendon Hills (2006).

Paul Holmes à Court said the Wine Enthusiast ‘New World Winery of the Year’ Wine Star Award was also a timely reminder of how the Margaret River wine region has cemented its reputation for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

“Margaret River’s youth and isolation were once our challenges, but have become our greatest assets. The pristine coastal location, ancient lands and biodiversity of flora and fauna make Margaret River a wine paradise unlike any other place on earth. A run of exceptional vintages since 2007 has seen our region’s wine quality go from strength to strength.”

Margaret River contributes just 3% of Australia’s overall wine production, but commands 20% of its premium market. The region’s Cabernets accounted for 41% of James Halliday’s Best of Best by Variety in his 2018 Wine Companion and 25% of its Chardonnays. Vasse Felix’s icon wines the TOM CULLITY Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec and HEYTESBURY Chardonnay were represented in each of these categories.

Videos of the awards, plus the acceptance speech from Paul Holmes à Court can be viewed here.

The official Vasse Felix Wine Star video and photos from the Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards black-tie gala are below. Photos: Mark Tomaras Photography.