[yellow tail] wins gold at Syrah Du Monde.

The globally successful [yellow tail] brand from Casella Wines has once again been recognised for its excellent quality after taking out two gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the highly renowned Syrah du Monde competition - created to recognise the best Syrah/Shiraz wines from around the world, based on their quality.

These are the winning wines:

GOLD - [yellow tail] Limited Release 2005 Wrattonbully Shiraz

GOLD - [yellow tail] Reserve Shiraz 2006

SILVER - Yendah Shiraz Viognier 2006 Langhorne Creek

BRONZE - [yellow tail] Shiraz 2006

A total of 325 wine samples from 17 countries were blind-tasted by a selection of respected wine experts for the prestigious competition. Each wine was tested in accordance with the strictest international regulations and quality assurance guidelines.

Alan Kennett, Chief Winemaker at Casella Wines, says he was delighted by the [yellow tail] achievement: "To be recognised as a producer of one of the top Shiraz in the world is truly exciting and rewarding. It's testament to our passion and commitment to making the best wines we can -wines that are not only loved here in Australia but are critically acclaimed and enjoyed around the world."

The fruit that goes into [yellow tail] Shiraz Limited Release hails from low-yielding vines in the Wrattonbully region of South Australia. The result is a drop that is big on flavour and deep in colour, with an intense aroma that displays classic spice and ripe berry notes with well-integrated oak.

Shiraz has long been a variety that Australia produces with excellence - our country boasts the second-largest plantings of the variety in the world. John Casella, Managing Director of Casella Wines, says that the popularity of Shiraz combined with the stellar reputation of the [yellow tail] brand has consistently proved a winning formula.

"In the US, our [yellow tail] Shiraz is the number-one selling 750ml red wine and on the home front we are proud to say the we are the number three selling shiraz in the $7 - $10 price category*."

"Shiraz is a very popular wine in Australia, as well as around the world and it's fantastic to see Australian wines recognised on an international level."