Sometimes it feels impossible to know how to pick a good wine. And how can you, when they are described using words that make no sense? How do you know that the wine that’s $20 is not as good as a wine that’s $90 when the label is covered in confusing wine terms? It makes it so hard to choose something you’re going to like! That’s where the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards have swooped in to make choosing the perfect wine for every occasion a breeze!
The Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards aim to make great wines more approachable. In their first-ever wine awards, Dan Murphy’s has announced winners across 11 categories grouped by style and price to help all of us find great wines to suit any occasion. The wines were judged by 12 of Dan Murphy’s best wine experts who chose the wines that are simply good, that are great for drinking and won’t break the bank! They’ve also shared a ‘value pick’ in each category which punches above its weight and is best in its category for its price too. If this isn’t a wine awards we can get behind, I don’t know what is!
This wine awards is for us everyday drinkers. It’s for wine lovers, not experts, and aims to help all of us pick wines easily by making wine less complicated. This is why I love it so much – it isn’t about stuffy terminology you don’t need. It’s about finding good wine to drink! I wanted to share the winners with you all, and what better way to explore them than to pair them with the perfect reason to drink them? So let’s dive into the perfect occasions to enjoy all the winners so you can get to the good part – the drinking!
The perfect picnic wine
Just picture it. It’s a glorious summer day and you’re out in the sunshine with your friends. I can’t think of a better place to enjoy the summer sunshine than a picnic, and wine makes this complete. But what wine pairs perfectly with a picnic? If this occasion doesn’t scream Rosé I don’t know what does!
The Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award category for Rosé is the Blue Pyrenees Bone Dry Rosé. Although I can see myself enjoying it at any time of day, I think it would be perfect for a picnic. It is a beautiful dry, lighter style of Rosé that we’ve all come to love. It’s oh so refreshing with nice crisp acidity and flavours of strawberries and cream. I can certainly picture myself sipping on this over a long Summer afternoon, enjoying a glass or two with friends.
The perfect wine for drinking on warmer days
In the Light Red Under $20 Category of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards, the winner was the Z Wine Rustica Grenache from Barossa Valley. This is the kind of Red Wine that you can enjoy even in Summer. For lovers of Red Wine, like me, it can be hard to find ones that pair well with a hot day. But this wine could easily be enjoyed all year round! Plus, the price point means you don’t have to think twice about cracking open a few bottles!
This wine was fresh and vibrant. It was juicy but not overpowering in its flavours, still maintaining a classic Grenache light style. I could definitely see myself having this wine chilled and enjoying it on a hot summer’s day, but also enjoying it with a lighter meal in winter. Either way, I wouldn’t think twice about purchasing a few bottles to have on hand for when friends come around!
The perfect wine for celebrations
There isn’t a wine more perfect for celebrating than Sparkling Wine. The winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Sparkling is a classic Australian Sparkling. The Jansz Vintage Cuvee 2014 from Tasmania definitely delivers flavours that add to any celebration. It’s dry without being too dry, and full of fresh and vibrant flavours that come from cool climate wine regions. This wine is elegant but refreshing and just plain delicious! This one is a no brainer when it comes to special occasions!
The perfect wine for bringing to a dinner party
We’ve all been there. You need to bring wine to a dinner party but you have no idea what to choose. You want to bring something everyone will enjoy, but you don’t know where to start! It can be hard to find an affordable wine that will go perfectly with multiple dishes but is still full enough to be paired with a meal like BBQ or a roast. There is so much choice for heavier reds, but it’s hard to find one that is a true people pleaser.
The Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award Fuller Red Under $20 category definitely delivers on flavour. The Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro from the Barossa Valley is full without being overpowering. It has great brightness and freshness to it from the addition of Grenache which lifts the flavours. It’s the sort of wine you can easily bring to a dinner party and pop on the table for everyone to share, without having to worry too much about the food pairing. A great food wine and a people pleaser all in one!
The perfect wine for Asian food
The Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards Lighter White Under $20 was the Knappstein Riesling from Clare Valley. This wine will pair oh so well with food, and is a match made in heaven with Asian food. It can be hard to find something that will stand up to the spices and robust flavours of this cuisine, but Riesling is such a great match. This one in particular is fresh, light and on the dry side, making it perfect with these flavours. I like that it is also on the dry side of Riesling, so you won’t get that huge sweet hit that some Riesling is known for. Plus, it is affordable at under $20, so you really don’t have to think twice about cracking it open on the couch with some takeout!
The best affordable white wine for your next dinner party
It can be so hard to pick wines for dinner parties. You want it to be something that goes with the food, but that most people will enjoy. As a result, you need something that’s balanced but also vibrant enough to go with a meal. And on top of all of that, you don’t want to be paying an arm and a leg for it!
It can be hard to find a decent Chardonnay at a good price, but the Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards Fuller Wine Under $20 really hits the spot. I know you’re thinking that people might not want to drink Chardonnay at a dinner party, but this is the wine for those who don’t want to drink another Sauvignon Blanc! The winner was the Devil’s Lair The Hidden Cave Chardonnay from Margaret River, and it is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay. It isn’t too fruity, and it isn’t too oaky. However, it has just enough oak for the Chardonnay lover in your life, just like my partner. It’s the perfect in-between, making it the perfect wine to share at a dinner party where you’re not sure what people like. It’s sure to please everyone, and offer a pleasant surprise for those that aren’t a fan of Chardonnay!
The best wine to serve adventurous Pinot lovers
We all have a Pinot Noir lover in our life, but there is so much more to discover! Pinot Meunier is usually used in Sparkling Wine, but it also makes an incredible drop that offers something different. The Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Lighter Red Over $20 is the Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Pinot Meunier 2018 from Henty Victoria, and it certainly delivers something different! Although it is light in colour, it is complex in flavour with a really elegant palate. It’s definitely one to serve your Pinot loving friends to see how it stacks up – I think they might be pleasantly surprised!
The best wine for your fancy dinner party
The Xanadu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 from Margaret River is the Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Fuller Red Over $20, and it is perfect for the next time you want to take it up a notch with your dinner party. Having the in-laws over and cooking your signature lamb dish? This wine will pair perfectly with a special occasion. Although you could cellar it, you really don’t need to. It’s perfect for drinking now – which can be hard to buy from the bottle store when it comes to fuller reds!
What I loved most about this wine were the flavours. It was very intense but full of vibrancy. This made it the perfect food wine, and one I could imagine being right at home with a fancy meal. It’s definitely the sort of wine I’d get out to impress my wine-loving friends, and maybe save another bottle to see how it ages!
The best wine for Sauvignon Blanc lovers
We all have a lover or two of Sauvignon Blanc in our lives, and the Winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Lighter White Over $20 is sure to make them happy! From Malborough, the Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2019 was said by the judges to be as good as Sauvignon Blanc gets. So if you are in the market for something to serve that special Sauvy lover in your life, this is definitely the pick. The wine was light in body but full of fresh flavours and crisp acidity. Although I’m not the biggest Sauvignon Blanc fan, I actually really enjoyed this wine. I can definitely picture myself enjoying this with Japanese food!
The wine that you don’t need an occasion for
Sometimes you don’t want to wait for a special occasion to open a bottle of wine. This wine you really don’t need a reason to open – it makes the occasion! The Xanadu Estate Chardonnay 2018 is the winner of the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Fuller White Over $20, and it’s easy to see why when you taste it. It follows a ‘less is more’ approach and the result is a beautifully balanced wine. It is less oaky than the winner of the Under $20 award and more restrained. Perfect for those moments when you want a delicious wine but don’t need an excuse! Next time just crack open a bottle of this wine and enjoy the moment.
The perfect wine for dessert
I find it really hard to choose a wine that goes with dessert. I’ll be honest, I never know what to look for and what makes a good dessert wine. But sometimes you want a little something to top off the evening. Lucky for us, the Winner of the Murphy’s Decoded Wine Award for Fortified Wine does just that! The Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur is from the home of fortified wines in Australia – Rutherglen. The flavours are rich and vibrant without being too overpowering. It’s the sort of wine I could see myself enjoying over ice along with a beautiful dessert. If that doesn’t top off a meal perfectly I don’t know what does!
The Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards make choosing wine easy
Whether you’re after a bottle of wine for your next fancy dinner party, or simply want a wine to bring to a backyard BBQ, the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards has the perfect wine for you! Their aim of making wine more accessible and easy to choose means that they’ve taken the guesswork out of deciding on the perfect wine. And with not only the winners to choose from but also a ‘value pick’ and runners up, you’ll be sure to have plenty of choice on your next trip to Dan Murphy’s!
I love the concept of this Wine Awards and think it is so refreshing. To award wines based on their drinkability is a great way to celebrate those wines that us everyday drinkers love to drink. Without the fancy wine terms and complicated tasting notes. Just plain and simple, delicious wines!
You can find the full list of award winners, and learn more about the awards, at the Dan Murphy’s website.
Note: This content is sponsored by Dan Murphy’s.