Three Gold Medals, a Trophy — and White wine of Provenance
The 2025 North East Victorian Wine Challenge (NEVWC) delivered an extraordinary set of results for A. Rodda Wines, with accolades spanning both current releases and a decade of Chardonnay craftsmanship.
Across the show, A. Rodda collected:
- Gold Medal — 2024 Whitlands Chardonnay
- Chief of Judges “Wine to Watch” Trophy — 2024 Whitlands Chardonnay
- Gold Medal — 2024 Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnay
- Gold Medal — 2024 Nebbiolo
- White Wine of Provenance Trophy — Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnay (2013, 2021, 2024)
It was an outstanding endorsement of Adrian Rodda’s long-term commitment to terroir-driven, single-vineyard Chardonnay, and a celebration of the remarkable sites he works with across North East Victoria.
2024 Whitlands Chardonnay — Gold + “Wine to Watch” Trophy
Perched high on the cool Whitlands plateau, this site consistently yields Chardonnay of clarity and tension — and the 2024 vintage captured that character beautifully. The wine not only received Gold, but also the highly selective Chief of Judges “Wine to Watch” Trophy, marking it as one of the most exciting and promising wines in this year’s competition – thanks Steve Flamsteed for the accolade!
The wine stood out for its pure, lifted aromatics of citrus, white florals and a delicate mineral edge, carried by sculpted acidity that gives the palate impressive energy and drive. This precision is supported by a refined, beautifully balanced texture that reflects subtle yet confident winemaking detail. The judges saw something special: a wine with both immediate appeal and clear future brilliance.
2024 Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnay — Gold from a Historic Site
The 2024 Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnay (not yet released) also achieved Gold, reinforcing the vineyard’s long-standing reputation as one of Beechworth’s great Chardonnay sites.
Expect a wine that offers depth of stone fruit and citrus, supported by beautifully integrated oak and a subtle struck-match complexity, all carried by a savoury, mineral line that speaks clearly of the vineyard’s granite soils. A classic expression of Beechworth Chardonnay, and a continuation of a lineage that’s only growing stronger.
2024 Nebbiolo — Gold for the wine from our home block, soon to be released!
The success continued with a Gold medal for the 2024 Nebbiolo, the very first wine to be released from Adrian’s own Beechworth vineyard. A milestone for both the winery and the site, this debut Nebbiolo showcases the vineyard’s immediate promise, delivering the lifted aromatics, fine tannins and savoury complexity that the variety thrives on in cool, granitic country. Its recognition at the NEVWC marks an exciting new chapter for A. Rodda Wines and a glimpse into the future potential of this home vineyard.
White Wine of Provenance Trophy — Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnay (2013, 2018, 2022)
One of the most prestigious honours of the entire NEVWC, the White Wine of Provenance recognises not just a single standout wine, but consistency and excellence across time.
A trio of Smith’s Vineyard Chardonnays — 2013, 2018 and 2022 — were assessed side by side, showing remarkable harmony in character, site expression and winemaking vision.
This award represents more than a decade of quality and stylistic integrity, highlighting the enduring voice of the Smith’s Vineyard site and the clarity with which it speaks across vintages. It reflects the vineyard’s ability to produce Chardonnay of depth, freshness and identity, regardless of season. It also underscores Adrian’s long-term commitment to crafting wines with longevity and precision — an approach that has shaped a consistent lineage of expressive, cellar-worthy Chardonnay. It is, in every sense, a testament to both vineyard and winemaker.
For collectors and Chardonnay enthusiasts, these results highlight both the quality of the current releases and the long-term pedigree of the wines emerging from these sites.
Read all of the results from the 2025 North East Victorian Wine Challenge here.
Download the Class results here.
