Critics who slam major wine brands as �bland and boring� have been dealt a blow by the Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007 (announced last night), as the UK�s number one Aussie brand, Jacob�s Creek, took three places in the prestigious ranking. This is the fourth annual �hotlist� produced by wine expert Matthew Jukes, at a time when sales of Australian wines are at an all-time high.

The 2005 Jacob�s Creek Shiraz, widely available in supermarkets at just �5.99, was put �in a lengthy line up with none other than Grange [priced at �150 a bottle]�It looked fabulous, glossy and downright delicious�, comments Jukes. Penfolds Grange is widely recognised as the pinnacle of Australian winemaking, comparable with the best wines from Bordeaux, and its 2002 vintage also won a place in the Top 100.

Two boutique wines made under the Jacob�s Creek label also made the cut � 2001 Jacob�s Creek Johann Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (�34.99) and 2005 Jacob�s Creek Steingarten Riesling (�14.99) � proving the brand�s ability to impress even the most discerning wine connoisseur.

Adrian Atkinson, wine development director at Jacob�s Creek distributor Pernod Ricard UK, says, �Jacob�s Creek was and continues to be a pioneer of Australian wines in Britain, and it�s fantastic to have its quality recognised in this prestigious line-up. Jacob�s Creek is one of just three brands to secure more than two wines in the line-up, and the Shiraz is one of only six wines priced under �6 to be recognised in the Top 100.�

Tesco has recently announced that it is now stocking �100 wines, and Jacob�s Creek Steingarten will be listed in selected stores from August. Britons are spending more than ever on wine and sales of bottles costing more than �10 have risen 74% in the past two years.

ENDS

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