By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
When cricketing royalty meets winemaking wizardry, the result is bound to be a corker - and Ponting Wines has just delivered a Shiraz that’s in a (big bash) league of its own.
The Milestone ‘127’ Barossa Shiraz 2022 recently took home the equivalent of cricket’s triple-century in wine accolades, winning Gold and two trophies - including Best Australian Shiraz - at the prestigious 2025 International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London.
You could say, Ponting’s Shiraz clean-bowled the competition and claimed the Ashes of the wine world!
The award-winning drop - which also snagged a Grand Gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy - is named after Ricky Ponting’s maiden test century: a gutsy 127 runs scored against England at Headingley in the 1997 Ashes.
It was a defining knock, the kind you raise your bat - and now, your glass - to. Fast forward nearly three decades and Ponting is still scoring centuries, this time in the cellar instead of on the pitch.
"The ‘127’ holds significant personal meaning for me; it takes me back to that incredible first Ashes test in 1997. That day, I probably played as well as I have in any test innings, which made it even more pleasing. That would be as close as any to my best,” Ricky says.
The timing of the awards is particularly poignant, with Father’s Day just around the corner - and Ponting himself extolling the virtues of toasting Dad with a bottle that celebrates legacy, leadership and a few well-earned runs between the wickets of life.
"I’ll certainly be raising a glass to my Dad this year,” he says. "He has always led by example and his dedication and commitment are something I have carried on in my life. I like to think that in every win I’ve had, there’s a little bit of Dad’s example featured in it,” he reflects.
"My Dad never made a fuss about Father’s Day, nor would he expect or ask for any sort of celebration and I reckon most Aussie dads are a bit the same.
"However, being able to bring a wine of this calibre home and sharing a glass with my family is something I will always cherish. It is one of the reasons we created Ponting Wines - to connect, create new memories and relive old ones. These milestone moments are all about sharing a moment, sitting down with loved ones and celebrating with a glass of wine.”
This Shiraz is no one-hit wonder. Crafted in partnership with celebrated winemaker Ben Riggs - a legend in his own right with more than 100 trophies to his name - the ‘127’ is a silky, vibrant drop made from hand-selected Barossa fruit. Among the vineyards used is one more than a century old, giving the wine a depth and structure that could rival a five-day Test.
"This wine reflects some of the best Shiraz in Barossa. Hand-selected parcels of fruit from the cooler subregions of the Barossa Valley, including a batch from a vineyard planted over a century ago, were blended to create this milestone Shiraz,” Ben says.
With a RRP of $40 and available now at pontingwines.com.au, the Milestone ‘127’ delivers a top-order drop for wine lovers, cricket tragics and anyone who enjoys a good yarn in a glass.
At the end of the day, milestones deserve to be celebrated. Whether it’s a hundred on debut or the best Aussie Shiraz in London, the message is the same - raise your glass, savour the moment and keep swinging for the boundaries.
