Peter Warr, winemaker at Kilikanoon. Image courtesy Great Australian GSM Challenge
South Australia’s Kilikanoon has won the inaugural 2025 Winetitles Great Australian GSM Challenge best GSM of Show Trophy. Kilikanoon was awarded the best GSM of Show Trophy for its 2022 Clare Valley Baudinet GSM.
Event director, Julian McLean, congratulated Kilikanoon on its triumph. “…It’s also pleasing to see Clare Valley in the regional spotlight,” he added.
McLean said this year’s inaugural event attracted strong industry support, with Kilikanoon’s winning wine prevailing over “intense competition”, particularly from McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley.
Other notable 2025 GSM Challenge results included Heathcote’s 2024 Tellurian GSM and the 2024 Barossa Valley Stage Door Wine Company.
Full details on the 2025 GSM trophy and medal winners can be viewed here.
The 2025 GSM judging panel consisted of Jen Pfeiffer (chair), Katie Spain, Sarah Andrew, Tyson Bitter, Mike De Iuliis and Steve Paul.
The inaugural Winetitles Great Australian Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre/Mataro Challenge (GSM) was chaired by Tahbilk Group director Alister Purbrick AM, and provided an opportunity for Australia’s premier red winemakers to showcase their blending skills and benchmark regional points of difference between these three varieties.
Nationally and internationally, Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre/Mataro blends are gaining in popularity, said McLean—the challenge for Australian winemakers is to effectively promote this unique offering and ensure consumers around the world discover the superb quality of the Australian version.
“I commend the inaugural Winetitles Great Australian GSM Challenge to you as an important Australian wine industry initiative,” said Purbrick, “whilst Shiraz is still at the forefront of domestic and international red wine sales, I believe the GSM category will continue to grow and gain popularity with consumers around world due to regional diversity and stylistic points of difference.”
Are you a Daily Wine News subscriber? If not, click here to join our mailing list. It’s free!
Dining and Cooking