McLaren Vale winemaker takes out top Young Gun award

Talented young McLaren Vale winemaker Rob Mack from Aphelion Wines (above) was today named Young Gun Winemaker of the Year for 2018 at a function at MONA in Hobart.

Mack is founder and director of the business, which makes "micro batch, hand crafted, minimal intervention, delicious wines".

Prior to striking out on his own, he worked at Kilikanoon in the Clare Valley, Laithwaites Wine People in Sydney and McLaren Vale Winemakers in McLaren Vale.

In 2016 he graduated with a Bachelor of Wine Science from Charles Sturt University after six years of study.

He won the Riedel-sponsored award over 12 finalists from around the country.

Other award winners were: Danger Zone winemaker: Chris Carpenter, Lark Hill, Canberra region; Winemaker's Choice: Paul and Gilli Lipscombe (below), Sailor Seeks Horse, Tasmania; People's Choice: Melanie Chester, Sutton Grange, Bendigo; and Best New Act: Jonny Hughes, Mewstone Wines, Tasmania.

The Wineslinger Awards for outstanding wine lists and service went to Harvest Newrybar in Northern New South Wales for the people's choice and the City Wine Shop in Melbourne for the overall award.

See www.younggunofwine.com.au.