June 20, 2025: Celebrating the very best of Victorian winemaking, A. Rodda has been awarded the coveted 2025 Premier’s Trophy at the Victorian Wine Show for their outstanding 2023 Baxendale Vineyard Chardonnay. This prestigious award, established in 2017, brings together the top wines from regional wine shows across Victoria in a “best of the best” final. Judged by an expert panel and selected from a shortlist of just 12 elite finalists, the winning wine was revealed at the Victorian Wine Show’s exclusive awards ceremony at Parliament House.
Panel chair and leading wine judge, Jane Thompson praised the wine’s purity and structure: “The A. Rodda Chardonnay was a standout from the first round of tasting. It shows precision, restraint and beautiful texture, all hallmarks of great cool-climate winemaking. It’s a wine of real finesse and presence.”
Another panellist, Michael Dhillon, commented on the vineyard’s influence: “You can taste the altitude and the soil in this wine – it’s mineral, bright, and incredibly focused. A benchmark for modern Victorian Chardonnay.”
Crafted by vigneron Adrian Rodda, who has been making wine since 1998. Originally working with David Bicknell at Oakridge, where he was involved in the development of the exceptional Oakridge 864 Chardonnay. Among peers, Rodda has been long regarded as a Chardonnay specialist; he said the award is both a personal milestone and a celebration of the King Valley’s unique terroir: “It’s incredibly humbling to receive this award. The Baxendale site has always offered us something special, and this recognition reflects the dedication of everyone involved—from the vineyard to the bottle.”
The Victorian Wine Show, running since 1981, is a cornerstone of the state’s wine industry, promoting excellence and collaboration across Victoria’s diverse regions. The Premier’s Trophy is proudly supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Global Victoria.
