A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate has claimed an international award for the best sparkling wine in the world. Dr Marc P. Bradshaw, Wine Master at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, is still celebrating after his win at the Effervescents du Monde®, held by the Forum Oenologie, on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November in Dijon, France. Dr Bradshaw’s Sparkling Icewine Cabernet 2008 was named first in the top 10 sparkling wines against competitors from France, Italy and Argentina. The annual event attracted more than 500 wines from 24 countries. Dr Bradshaw received his PhD from CSU in Wagga Wagga, Australia, in 2002 after completing his research in 2001 investigating ‘Ascorbic Acid as a Promoter of Wine Spoilage’ under Professor of Oenology, Professor Geoff Scollary. The then CSU academic convinced the PhD student to pursue a career in wine over his initial plan to work as a forensic scientist. Dr Bradshaw has worked at wineries in South Africa, Germany and Australia. He started at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Canada in 2004, and was elevated to the position of Wine Master in 2006. “I’m stoked that my Cab Sparkling Icewine was given the honour of top spot at the Effervescents du Monde. It’s pretty surreal for me as this was my first crack at producing a sparkling wine of any sort. It’s very humbling that my Canadian red Icewine should be judged so highly among top champagne and sparkling wine producers and regions,” Dr Bradshaw said.