REVEALED: The $60 wine voted best in WA
A wine-making duo from Pemberton and their juicy yet delicate pinot noir has come up trumps in WA's first people's choice wine award.
More than 20,000 votes were cast in the inaugural WA Top 100 Wine Awards, with the $60 bottle from Ampersand Estate proclaimed No.1 when winners were announced on Wednesday night at Fremantle's Urban Winery.
Rounding out the top five behind Ampersand's pinot noir were Stella Bella Luminosa's cabernet sauvignon, Cherubino's ad hoc nitty gritty pinot grigio, Cullen Wines' legendary Diana Madeline and LS Merchants' Vermentino.
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Wineries big and small were able to be considered for the awards, as long as the wine was from WA and a 2024 vintage.
'To see so many people vote to support their favourite wineries is amazing,' organiser Jamie Burnett said. After more than 20-thousand votes, the Top Up Wines Top 100 has been revealed with Ampersand Estates Pinot Noir named WA's favourite drop. Credit: Supplied FRANCES ANDRIJICH
'When we turned voting on, we had no idea what results would come. That was the fun of it. I'm stoked to see such a diverse list of wines and wineries make the Top Up Wines Top 100.'
Chardonnay was voted the State's preferred wine style, with cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir not far behind.
Ampersand Estates was founded by Melissa Bell and Corrie Scheepers in 2020. The estate was formerly known as Donnelly River Winery before the pair purchased and rehabilitated the Peerabeelup site.
Mr Burnett started Top Up Wines alongside industry veteran Scott Spalding and former West Coast premiership player Chris Masten, who has comfortably swapped footballs for a wine glass in recent years. Former West Coast premiership player Chris Masten. Credit: Supplied
'The great thing about Top Up is it throws it over to the people,' Mr Masten said.
'You don't have to be a somm, you just have to like what you like.'
WA Wines executive officer Larry Jorgensen said the people's choice format was a huge success, given it drew entries from all nine WA wine regions.
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