Aussie owned winemaking company honoured as a 2020 Sélections Mondiales de Vins Canada Gold Medalist
- Written by Tess Sanders Lazarus
Leconfield Wines has been awarded a 2020 Sélections Mondiales de Vins Canada Award in the Australian wines category for their 2018 Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. This recognition stands as testament to Leconfield Wines’ dedication and success in delivering internationally recognised, top quality wines.
Leconfield Wines is a highly respected and globally revered industry leading winemaking business that has amassed a distinguished portfolio of awards. Their brands include Leconfield Coonwarra, Richard Hamilton Wines and Syn Sparkling Wines.
Now in their 27th year, the prestigious Sélections Mondiales de Vins Awards celebrate winemakers from across the world. Sélections Mondiales de Vins Awards is the largest international wine competition in North America. Receiving a Sélections Mondiales de Vins Award demonstrates Leconfield’s ability to connect with an international audience, and catch the attention of some of the most recognisable wine critics in the industry.
Headquartered in McLaren Vale, South Australia, Leconfield Wines is Australia’s oldest family owned winemaking business. Owned by Dr Richard Hamilton and his wife, Jette, Dr Hamilton is a fifth generation descendant of Richard Hamilton 1st who planted South Australia’s first wine producing vineyards in 1837. Leconfield Wines takes in Leconfield Wines in Coonawarra and Richard Hamilton Wines in McLaren Vale.
Leconfield Wines has a history of producing top quality, award winning wines. Their wines are sold across Australia, overseas and also served aboard business class flights and on Great Southern Rail trains including The Ghan, Indian Pacific, Great Southern and The Overland. In mid-2020, Leconfield was approved for distribution and sale in three Canadian provinces, Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec, so this award has only strengthened their short, but growing, relationship with the country and served to bolster their growing export market to Australia’s fellow Commonwealth partner.
Dr Hamilton, the owner of Leconfield Wines, has a lifetime of experience in winemaking and production, and is delighted that his company has attracted the attention of the industry’s leading wine awards.
“This award is very important in our quest to open new and develop current markets. We are truly honoured to receive this accolade as an Australian owned and founded wine making company,” Dr Hamilton said.
“Our entire team of dedicated winemakers should be incredibly proud of this accomplishment, as it was no small feat. More than 2160 registered wines from 33 countries took part in the 2020 Sélections Mondiales de Vins Awards, with 55 percent of those participating being red wines.
“Our 2018 Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is certainly a crowd favourite on Australian soil, so we are hopeful that this formal recognition from another international wine competition further cements our wines on international wine lovers’ radars.
“The Australian economy no doubt took a major hit from the COVID-19 pandemic but this is certainly one good story to come out of it. We are proudly Australian owned and will continue our quest to expand Leconfield and our wonderful brands of wines all over the world.
“Being awarded a Gold 2020 Sélections Mondiales de Vins Award is an honour and I am really pleased that our work has again been recognised in the industry.”
Leconfield Wines is Australia’s oldest family owned winemaking business and home to Leconfield Coonawarra, Richard Hamilton Wines and Syn Sparking Wines. Internationally acclaimed for its wines, Leconfield Wines’ brands regularly win national and international awards and are also served on premium Australian experiences including luxury trains and airlines. Paul Gordon is the head winemaker.
