South Australian wines win Jimmy Watson memorial trophy for Australia's best reds 40 times in first 60 years
Metala Claret Type (cabernet/shiraz) 1961 from South Australia's Langhorne Creek, produced by Stonyfell Wines, was the first winner of the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 1962.
Hentley Farm winery in the Barossa Valley, with its Old Legend Grenache (2021) in 2022, and Stoneyfell Wines Metala Claret Type (cabernet suavigon/shiraz, 1961) in 1962 bookended South Australia’s dominance of 60 years of the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Australia’s best red wine. South Australian wine had won the trophy 40 out of those 60 years.
A memorial to Jimmy Watson (died 1962), who set up the iconic Jimmy Watson's Wine Bar in Melbourne’s Carlton, the trophy was awarded annually at Royal Melbourne Wine for the best one- or two-year -old dry red wine. South Australian winners and their regions were:
2022 Hentley Farm The Old Legend Grenche 2021 Barossa Valley
2019 Bleasdale Vineyards The Wild Fig, SGM, 2018 Langhorne Creek
2017 Turkey Flat Vineyards Grenache 2016 Barossa Valley
2014 S.C. Pannell Wines Adelaide Hills Syrah 2013 Adelaide Hills
2006 Shingleback D Block Reserve Cabernet Sauvigon 2005 McLaren Vale
2005 Geoff Merrill Wines Reserve Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale
2004 Casella Estate Yellowtail Premium Cabernet Sauvignon Wrattonbully
2003 Saltram Wine Estate The Eighth Maker Shiraz 2002 Barossa Valley
2001 Pepper Tree Wines Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Coonawarra
2000 Punters Corner Spartacus Reserce Shiraz 1999 Coonawarra
1999 Wolf Blass Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 Barossa Valley
1998 Katnook Estate Prodigy Shiraz 1997 Coonawarra
1996 Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1995 McLaren Vale, Padthaway
1995 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz Clare Valley
1994 Rouge Homme Richardsons Red Block Cabernet/
Sauvgon/Malbec/Frac 1993 Coonawarra
1993 Elderton Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 Barossa South
1990 Peter Lehmann Show reserve Shiraz 1989 Barossa Valley
1989 Jamiesons Run Shiraz/Cab Sauv/Franc/Melbec 1988 Coonawarra
1988 Hardy's The Hardy Collection Cabernet sauvignon 1987 Padthaway
1987 Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 1987 Coonawarra
1986 Lindemans Pyrus Cabernet Sauvignon/
Merlot/Franc/Malbec 1985
1985 Hollick Cabernet Sauvignon 1984 Coonawarra
1982 Hamiliton's Ewell
Vineyards Dry Red Claret (Cabernet/ Shiraz) 1981 Coonawarra
1981 Lindemans St George
Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1980 Coonawarra
1980 Krondorf Wines Dry Red Burgundy (Cabernet Sauvignon) 1976 Australia
1979 Orlando Wines Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon) 1978 Australia
1977 Wynns Connawarra
Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 1976 Coonawarra
1976 Wolf Blass Wines Dry Red Claret
(Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz) 1975 Langhorne Creek and Barossa Valley
1975 Wolf Blass Wines Dry Red Claret
(Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz) 1974 Langhorne Creek & Coonawarra
1974 Wolf Blass Wines Dry Red Claret
(Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz) 1973 Langhorne Creek & Eden Valley
1973 Berri Co-op Winery
& Distillery Dry Red Claret/Burgundy (Cabernet/Shiraz) 1972 Riverland
1972 B Seppelt Dorrien TT 147, Cabernet Sauvignon 1971 Barossa Valley
1971 Gramps Orlando Dry Red Claret (Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon) 1970 Barossa Valley
1970 Basedow Wines Dry Red Claret/Burgundy
(Bin 15, Cabernet/Shiraz) 1969 Barossa South
1969 d'Arenberg Claret Type (Cabernet Sauvignon) 1968 McLaren Vale
1968 Penfolds Claret Type (Grange) 1967 South Australia
1967 Saltram Wines Burgundy Type (Cabernet Sauvignon) 1966 Barossa Valley
1966 Penfolds Penfolds Claret Type 1965 South Australia
1964 Penfolds Claret Type (Bin 64 Kalimna,
Cabernet Sauvignon) 1963 South Australia
1963 Hardy's Tintara Burgundy Type (Reserve Bin C404,
Cabernet Sauvignon) 1962 McLaren Vale
1962 Stoneyfell Wines Metala Claret Type (Cabernet/Shiraz)1961 Langhorne Creek