Graham Norton's wine collaborations win top awards

Late night talk-show host Graham Norton's Kiwi rosé and Australian Shiraz have won medals at the 37th Sydney International Wine Competition.

The wines - both a collaboration with Invivo Wines - produced a Blue Gold medal for the rosé and a Gold medal for the Shiraz.

Norton's Own 2015 Shiraz is a mix of grapes from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, blended at Bantry House in County Cork, Ireland. The 2016 'Pink by Design' rosé is produced from Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes grown in Marlborough and Hawkes Bay.

Both wines have been launched into New Zealand and Australia. The Shiraz will launch in to the UK and Ireland later this month and the rosé in time for summer 2017 in the Northern hemisphere.

Chairman of judges Kym Milne praised the quality of this year's entrants, singling out the success of lighter-bodied wines.

"The Lighter Bodied Whites class proved to be one of the more interesting and varied of all the classes in terms of results," Milne said.

"The Top 100 & Blue Gold categories feature wines made from Pinot Gris, Viognier from New Zealand, as well as Semillon, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends, Vermentino, Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay and a very good Italian white blend all from a wide variety of Australian regions and climates."

Judging took place in October from a total of 1911 wines from eight countries.

Graham Norton's Own 2015 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough previously sold more than 600,000 bottles and was chosen for Qantas Business Class.

Watch: Graham Norton & Invivo winemaking session