A new international benchmark for Shiraz

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Howard Park Wines has been awarded a Silver Medal at the inaugural 2007 Syrah du Monde in France for their 2004 Howard Park Leston Shiraz from Margaret River.

This competition is a new player on the international wine stage. Its aim is to bring together a respected team from around the world to judge this widely appreciated varietal that was first planted on the hillsides of the northern Rhone Valley and now is extensively planted across the globe.

On the 31st May and 1st June 2007, 325 entries from 17 countries were blind tasted and judged by a team of respected journalists, oenologists, retailers, grape growers, wine merchants, wine stewards and wine tasters. From the line up, nine medals were awarded to Australian wines with Howard Park the only West Australian Shiraz to receive an award.

The Shiraz varietal is one of the world’s top six grape varietals with Australia having the second largest plantings following France.

“Our 2004 Howard Park Leston Shiraz is reaching new heights and we are honoured to add this award to the Silver Medal received at the 2007 International Wine Challenge and Gold Medal received at the 2007 Concours Mondial in Brussels. The international praise received from leading wine aficionados for our Leston Shiraz reinforces our belief in our Margaret River vineyard and its terrior for producing great Shiraz.” says Howard Park owner Amy Burch.

The Leston Shiraz is a single vineyard wine from the Howard Park’s Leston vineyard in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. The vines were planted in 1996 and the first vintage released in 1999. The Leston Shiraz forms part of the single vineyard series from Howard Park, a Leston Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River and a Scotsdale Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Great Southern, the four wines explore the concept of Western Australian terrior for these two varietals.