Patrick’s Wrattonbully Riesling wins National award

“The Boutique Wine Awards are the highest honour a boutique winery can gain without competing against corporate wineries, and to win such a major accolade against the very best in these two countries is a wonderful achievement,” says winemaker Patrick Tocaciu.

Patrick of Coonawarra is the only Riesling producer in the Wrattonbully district, using exceptional quality grapes harvested from estate-owned vines planted in 1999. The first vintage in 2003 was highly acclaimed, winning a gold medal at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge. Subsequent vintages have attracted consistently high ratings in the nineties in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion.

“We’re excited not only for ourselves but also for Wrattonbully and the entire Limestone Coast region, as this area is dominated by red varietals and not generally recognised for its Riesling...this is a fantastic example of what can be achieved in an Australian cool climate,” says Patrick.

Patrick Tocaciu has championed the merits and versatility of Riesling in a career spanning more than three decades – and it’s always been something that he has done well.

“From a sweet dessert wine to a dry style, Riesling covers the full spectrum of table wines...it can also be consumed as a young wine yet has a lot of potential for graceful ageing, taking it from a lemon zest to a toasty lemon butter flavour,” he explains. “It was the first variety I ever experimented with and I cut my teeth making recognisable Riesling in a cool climate, so while it may be against the grain in these parts, it is something that I truly believe in, which is why I chose to plant it at Wrattonbully.”

The award caps off an exciting month for the family-owned company; three weeks ago, it unveiled a new corporate identity - Patrick of Coonawarra - in a bold move designed to link personality with regionality. The new look reflects a strong sense of pride in the world-renown region which serves as the company’s headquarters.

“I see it as a turning point in my career, and this Boutique Wine Award cements the fact that we are heading in the right direction,” says Patrick.

Further information contact Sarah Andrew, phone: 0414 541 254 or email: sarah@seladorwines.com