The winners of the 2023 Royal Adelaide Wine Show have just been announced and there’s a tradition that you may not know about.

Western Australian winery Evans & Tate took out top honours at this year’s Royal Adelaide Wine Show with a well-deserved win for their Redbrook Shiraz 2019.

Lauded for its stunning depth and length of flavour, it garnered the Max Schubert AM Trophy for Most Outstanding Red in Show.

However, for anyone who appreciates a little inside knowledge on what to serve when guests arrive, the awarding of the Governor’s Trophies provided just that.

The Governor’s Trophy for Best South Australian Red in Show was awarded to Jim Barry Wines Barry and Sons Cabernet 2021.

While its companion for Best South Australian White in Show went to Penfolds Cellar Reserve Polish Hill River Riesling 2023.

Those lucky enough to score an invitation to Government House in the next twelve months will be treated to these two fine local wines.

Greg Follet, Chairman of the Wine Committee and past Max Schubert Trophy recipient, says the tradition is a welcome one.

“Our state Governors have been huge supporters of the Wine Show over the years and having the additional benefit of being served in Government House is a great privilege,” says Greg.

He says it was another great year for what is considered the most prestigious wine show in Australia.

“We had more than 2300 wines this year, and our judges have been impressed by the quality and variety of wines in this year’s entries,” he says.

“Evans & Tate have had a great couple of years winning big awards for their Chardonnays and Cabernet, and winning one of the country’s leading red wine awards is another feather in their cap.”

Other wins included boutique Margaret River winery Stella Bella Wines, awarded the George Fairbrother Memorial Trophy for Best White Wine in Show for their Luminosa Chardonnay 2022.

Hunter Valley’s Brokenwood Wines won The Gramp Hardy Hill Smith Prize for the best National Wine of Provenance for their Indigo Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, 2016, 2022, with head winemaker Stuart Hordern awarded the F Miller & Co Prize.

Also announced were the Royal Australian Spirit Awards, which saw distillers from across Australia and New Zealand enter across 20 individual classes.

Among these was the TAFE SA Trophy for Champion Spirit in Show, which was awarded to St Agnes Distiller for their St Agnes XO, Distilled.

The Best Australian Vintage, Tawny or Ruby in Show – sponsored by SALIFE stablemate, InDaily – went to Seppeltsfield Wines Para Rare Tawny.

South Australia had an almost clean sweep of the Champion Trophies, winning six of the seven.

Mad Monkey Distillery’s Pure Single Rum was awarded Champion Rum, Tiny Friday Social scored the Champion Other Spirit for their Pisco, St Agnes Distillery’s St Agnes XO took out Champion Brandy, Tin Shed Distilling Iniquity Single Malt Whisky Silver Label Batch 23 won Champion Whisky, Prohibition Liquor Co Juniperus Gin won Champion Gin, and Webb Spirit Co’s Original Australian Dry Gin won Champion Gin.

Consequently, while the Governor is yet to add a third Trophy for spirits, it’s safe to say come cocktail hour, there’s bound to be a local distiller in the mix!

See a full list of the winners here.