Rewards for sustainable winemaking

A SIXTH-generation winemaker in the Barossa was recently recognised with a prestigious award at the 2025 Riverland Wine Show.

Hill-Smith Family Estates, based in Angaston, were awarded the Sustainable Wine Growing Australia/Riverland Wine Trophy for Best Sustainable Wine, announced last month at the gala dinner, held at Hotel Renmark.

Hill-Smith Family Estates received the award for its 2024 Oxford Landing cabernet sauvignon shiraz.

The Hill-Smith Family have been planting vineyards and crafting wine for more than 175 years and each generation of the family has been innovative in leading the winery to where it is today.

Winemaker Matthew Zadow has been making Oxford Landing red wines since 2011, and said he was over the moon to receive the prestigious award that was recognition for his hard work.

“We are seeing sensational wines coming from the Riverland right now and it’s exciting to be recognised alongside the best in the region, it is a great reward for our vineyard and winery teams,” he said.

“The 2024 vintage presented drier conditions, however, temperatures remained mild throughout the ripening season to produce wines of outstanding varietal character and drinkability.”

The team also received 96 points and a gold medal for the 2025 sauvignon blanc.

Chair of judges for the event Sarah Pidgeon was full of praise for the Hill-Smith Family, and said the wine showed presence of poise, restrained power and ripeness, with a coil of tannin and fruit.

Under the ownership of the Hill-Smith family in South Australia, Oxford Landing crafts flavoursome, sustainably produced, affordable wines.

The wines are modern interpretations of classic varieties and a true reflection of the place they come from.

Sustainability has been at the core of Oxford Landing’s operation – be it environmental, economic or social – since the vineyard was founded in 1958, by Wyndham Hill-Smith.

The Hill-Smith family maintains more than a hectare of native bushland on site to match every hectare of the vineyard.

The Oxford Landing Winery was among the first Australian wineries to be accredited with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia – the national program for grape growers and winemakers committed to making sustainable wine.

You can find out more about Hill-Smith Family Estates by visiting the website (www.hsfe.com/about).