Ditch The Goon: The Best Wine In The World Is Just 20 Bucks

In an epic win for Aussie wine, a $20 bottle of Australian vino just rocked the wine world by being crowned the absolute best at the 20th annual VINUS International Wines and Spirits Competition down in Argentina.

And guess who's behind this game-changer? South Australian family winery Taylors, nestled snugly in Clare Valley, just bagged the highly coveted International Champion trophy for its $20 Taylors Heritage Label Shiraz - landing a perfect 100-point rating from the judges.

This Aussie gem didn't just beat the competition; it annihilated it, squaring off against over 580 entrants from a whopping 15 different countries.

But here's the real kicker: Taylors is no one-hit-wonder. They snagged the same award last year for their Estate Shiraz 2020, making history as the first winery ever to snag this prestigious prize back-to-back.

"This is such exciting news for our winery - not only have we taken out a major trophy for our wine, but the judges deemed it to be worthy of 100 points. It's phenomenal," Taylors managing director Mitchell Taylor said.

"The Heritage Shiraz is a special wine that celebrates the heritage of our family winery and takes inspiration from our very first vintage release in 1973."

The Heritage Shiraz is not just any wine; it's a tribute to Taylors' heritage, inspired by their very first vintage released way back in 1973. So, sipping on this beauty means you're savouring a piece of history.

The impressive accolade isn't just a win for Taylors; it's a win for the whole Australian wine gang.

It’s no secret these past few years have been tough. In July, Wine Australia dropped the bombshell that the value of Australia's wine exports had taken a hit, falling by a hefty 10 percent in the past financial year.

Adding to the drama, the Chinese government laid the smackdown with tariffs that went way over the top – a jaw-dropping 200 per cent-plus on Aussie wine imports back in 2020. That really hurt, considering how much Aussies and China used to bond over wine.

But hold your wine glasses high because there's a light at the end of this vineyard. There's word on the street that Beijing might just be rethinking those tariffs on Australian wine exports.

"We're optimistic about the future of our industry, particularly now as China is reviewing its tariffs on Australian wine exports," Taylor said.

"I've spent most of my life working in the wine industry, and the biggest lesson I've learned is that not every year can be rosy. In fact, this is the hardest I've seen over my last three decades working in the wine industry."

Cheers to that!