An Australian winery has been named the International Red Winemaker of the Year at the prestigious 2007 International Wine Challenge Awards.

McLaren Vale winery Wirra Wirra was officially announced as the winner at the awards dinner in London.

Wirra Wirra was the only Australian winery to be short-listed for the accolade and beat off competition including Viña Valdivieso of Chile, Cantina di Soave from Italy and Casa Girelli also from Italy.

Senior winemaker, Samantha Connew, who’s currently in Spain working vintage at Compañia de Vinos de Telmo Rodriguez in Rueda, attended the dinner to accept the award:

Connew said she was very proud to accept the awared on behalf of Wirra Wirra. “It’s a tremendous endorsement to the hard work and talent of the whole team,” she said. “We’re extremely passionate about our red wine at Wirra Wirra from our flagship RSW and The Angelus to our popular Scrubby Rise and religiously followed Church Block”.

The International Wine Challenge is one of the world’s most respected wine competitions. More than 465 winemakers, merchants and writers from around the world make up the judging panel, including over 40 Masters of Wine.

This year 9,358 wines were judged at London’s Barbican Centre. 260 won gold medals and from these 84 wines were awarded a distinguished IWC Trophy.