London’s International Wine Challenge, coming off the back of the annual London Wine Trade Fair, has always been delighted to come up with the odd controversial trophy, particularly where the wine in question is little known. The Sydney International Wine Competition has taken a leaf out of the International Wine Challenge book with its Trophy for Best Australian Sparkling Wine Aperitif Style at the 2010 event. The winner recieves the National Australia Day Council’s Perpetual Trophy, and becomes the Australia Day Wine of the Year. Moscatos are appearing everywhere, from small wineries to large, from dry to sweet, at almost any alcohol level you may nominate, the lower wines with alcohol levels around 5% to 6%, not even being technically wine. And the winner? Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato, with an rrp of $12.99, and a real sales price somewhat less than that if you shop in the supermarkets. It emerged on top of 75 sparkling wines including wines from Champagne, Australia and New Zealand made from the classic sparkling wine grape varieties, chardonnay, pinot noir and/or pinot meunier.