The judging panel at Visy’s 2009 challenge included some of Australia’s best known Shiraz producers who judged the wines in regional, and climatic, brackets to ensure all entries were objectively assessed.

The wine has also been named the best in Winestate magazine’s World’s Greatest Shiraz Challenge.

The two back-to-back awards have positioned the Copper Trail as one of Australia’s most noted Shiraz wines.

Since its initial release the Copper Trail Shiraz 2005 has collected five trophies at various Australian wine shows, with its first win early in 2007.

The 2001 vintage of the Copper Trail Shiraz picked up the title of winner of Visy’s Great Australian Shiraz, also under the guidance of current Annie’s lane winemaker Alex MacKenzie.

“To win awards of this calibre three years on for Annie’s Lane Copper Trail Shiraz 2005, especially given the line up of exceptional Australian Shiraz entries, is really gratifying as a winemaker and reiterates the quality of Shiraz from the Clare Valley,” Mr MacKenzie said.

“My end goal is to craft a flagship style that distinctly expresses the best fruit and characteristics of the region.”