Avenue Vine

An ecstatic Michael Ward was over the moon with delight when the news came in. “They are the smallest distillery in this huge global competition and to achieve these results is absolutely mind blowing,” he said, “This is very exciting for Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Queensland and Australia “.

The International Taste and Quality Institute is the worlds leading organisation dedicated to judging and honouring superior tasting food and beverage products with juries composed of famous European chefs, beverage experts and sommeliers. The Superior Taste Award granted by the ITQI is therefore a unique recognition used by producers and retailers around the world, both domestically and internationally. Hundreds of multinational, national and regional companies from more than 60 countries participate annually.

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ITQI follows a rigorous, independent and proprietary sensory analysis methodology. Products are tasted blind with the main focus on hedonic analysis (ie: the intensity of pleasure). Organoleptic criteria (aspect, smell, texture, taste and after taste) are also measured and commented on by the jury of chefs and sommeliers.

This win follows another huge success by winning 4 awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in March 2008.

This is Americas largest competition and hundreds of brands from over 60 countries compete.

Arak/Raki Pastis - Silver was best in class. TMD Choc n Chilli Liqueur - Silver, TMD Lavender Liqueur - Bronze, Moulin Rooz Absinthe - Bronze.

In both competitions they were the most awarded distillery from Australia.

In 1992, they moved from Tasmania for a change of climate and lifestyle. They found this property with its many fruit trees on Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, and decided to settle. As they did not want to use chemical sprays on our fruit, they discovered that our products did not meet with market requirements. For a four person family, they had too much fruit, so they needed to ‘convert’ it into something which would make this small property productive.

"Fermentation for the purpose of distillation" was the goal – and so the small potstill was born!!

This is a family business where Sonya & Alex pitch in with Mum and Dad where picking fruit, mulching trees, mashing worts, cranking up the still, bottling and blending are parts of daily life for this family.

Hidden away in the Gold Coast Hinterland, is the Tamborine Mountain Distillery. This is Australia's smallest operating Pot Still Distillery, but of world renown, including in Europe, America, Canada, New Zealand and Asia.

With the Combination of rich red volcanic soils and fresh Spring Water, the abundant fruit of the Mountain is fermented and distilled.

A small Pot Still is used to create the superb spirit which is the essence and foundation of Liqueurs, Schnapps, Vodka and Eaux de Vie.

Although Michael and Alla Ward's Distillery has only been open a short time (July 1998) they have already established a very enviable reputation as creators of high quality liqueurs, vodkas, schnapps and eaux-de-vie. This reputation, largely developed by word of mouth, has seen people coming not only from all Australian states but America, Europe and Asia as well.

The Distillery's products have won awards in America (Chicago, San Francisco) and Europe (London, Belgium, Germany, Austria).

The incredible range of fruit that is grown on Tamborine Mountain is a wonderful resource for the Ward's to draw from to produce their variety of Liqueurs and Schnapps. The Distillery also receives a considerable diversity of fruit from other growers which they turn into beautiful, smooth, Schnapps, Liqueurs, Fruit Brandy, Gins and Vodkas.

The Wards have received nationwide coverage in the print media and national and international television coverage. In an endeavour to enhance the personal touch by being able to relate to small groups in telling their story, the Wards have deliberately made their driveway narrow to preclude bus loads of people arriving en masse.

The International Taste and Quality Institute Website

Tamborine Mountain Distillery Website

May 7, 2008