Young Gun of Wine (YGOW), the industry’s authority on the best young wine labels and winemakers in the country, has announced the 2020 Top 50 winemakers – with three on the list hailing from the Orange and Central Ranges Wine Region.

Tom Ward from Orange’s Swinging Bridge Wines, Steve Mobbs from Canowindra’s Wallington Wines and Dreaded Friend label, and Will Gilbert who makes wines from Orange and Mudgee have been included in the 2020 Top 50 list.

Young Gun of Wine Founder Rory Kent said the 2020 list represents a truly diverse collection of the best and latest in Australia right now.

The YGOW Awards panel tasted around 250 wines over two days at Howard Smith Wharves to come together with the final Top 50 list.

 “The judging is pretty rigorous and they go through tasting it and look at the brand where it is and what it stands for and the region and select it from there —  so that's really exciting to be acknowledged as part of that,” said Swinging Bridge’s Tom Ward.

“It’s a great thing to represent Orange, to be part of this and to really showcase what Orange is doing on a national stage… Chardonnay from Orange is without a doubt world class and we think we are certainly pushing the barrow.

“Australian wine is in a very exciting phase at the moment and Orange is part of that. I think everyone has done a lot of work around Orange in their styles of wine, where they stand on a national stage and what we are doing with our cellar doors, so it is really nice to be acknowledged for that.”

The next stage of the YGOW competition is normally done with further tastings, but this year it will be done virtually. More details can be found at younggunofwine.com

It is obviously an uncertain time for our local wine industry, just as it is for all of us, but Tom is hopeful we can pull through together.

“It is going to be about supporting local businesses, it is going to be an uncertain six months ahead, but local businesses are what are going to be here in the long term and I know I'll be supporting local businesses very enthusiastically,” he said.

“And that is not just about wine, I'm saying local restaurants those that are at the initial forefront of losing their overall business. This is a time when the whole community has to work together to make sure that everyone at the end of this comes out of it in a positive way.

“All I can say to everyone is make sure you do best practice, stay safe and when we come out of this I hope we are drinking really good wine together and celebrating what a great community we live in.”