FIVE McLaren Vale winemakers have made the top 50 of the national Young Gun of Wine Awards - a competition which celebrates the best newcomers of the wine industry.
Andre Bondar of Bondar Wines, Charles Seppelt and Skye Selter of Paralian Wines and Mauricio Ruiz Cantu and Benjamin Caldwell of Somos Wines are McLaren Vales representatives in the Young Gun of Wine Top 50.
Each of these winemakers have an extensive history with their craft, working international vintages, putting in countless hours to understand the processes involved with creating wine and learning from some of the best in the business.
Founder of the Young Gun of Wine Awards, Rory Kent said the awards provide a platform for emerging winemakers, new wine labels, and new ideas.
"It's the place to spot the best talent and trends in wine. What these producers are making today, people will be drinking tomorrow," he said.
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"The thing about emerging wine producers is they're a source of innovation, inspiration and new ideas.
"They're not shackled by conventions. They're free. Wide-eyed; adventurous; eager to travel; to experiment; to remix, they question everything. They create energy. They excite. And this is how they lead," he said.
Taking a focus on winemakers who are not necessarily young by birth date, there is a focus to find winemakers who are young at heart.
Somos Wines co-winemaker, Mauricio Ruiz Cantu, said he and Ben Caldwell [his winemaking counterpart at Somos) were excited to make the Young Gun of Wine's top 50.
The duo who met while studying at the University of Adelaide have been producing wines since 2013, however most of their wine has been produced under another label, Juguette.
The creation of the Somos label was a chance for the duo to explore different wine varietals and winemaking techniques.
Mr Ruiz Cantu said that with the Somos label, he and Mr Caldwell are trying to take varietals which are uncommon in Australia and try style them in different ways.
"We try to work to work with growers are very environmentally conscious and more often than not certified organic and bio-dynamic," he said.
Mr Ruiz Cantu also has an inspiring passion for winemaking, leaving little wonder as to why he is one of the winemakers who has made the Young Gun of Wine top 50.
He considers it almost artistic in the way the ever-changing variants of winemaking "result in a particular, unique expression".
