A small Canberra-region winery has taken out a major award at the National Wine Show of Australia, with Sapling Yard’s 2025 Fiori white blend winning a trophy at the national competition.

The award was presented at the National Press Club, with founder and winemaker Carla Rodeghiero accepting the honour on behalf of the Braidwood-based winery.

The National Wine Show is regarded as one of Australia’s leading wine competitions, with entry restricted to wines that have already won gold or silver medals at qualifying wine shows around the country.

For Sapling Yard, which operates with a small team, the win places the winery alongside much larger and more established producers competing at a national level.

Ms Rodeghiero said the recognition was a significant milestone for the business, which she established in 2013.

The winning wine, Fiori – Italian for “flowers” – is a blend of riesling from Murrumbateman, pinot gris and gewürztraminer from Tumbarumba, and pinot blanc grown at Sapling Yard’s vineyard.

The trophy follows a strong run for the winery on the wine show circuit. The 2025 Fiori qualified for the national competition after winning a trophy at the NSW Wine Show, while Sapling Yard’s shiraz viognier also collected a gold medal and later won a trophy for best shiraz at the Winewise Championship.

Ms Rodeghiero said the award reflected years of work building the label in a highly competitive industry.

“There is no overnight success in the wine business,” she said.

Carla’s winning ways with blended wine