This year, the 24th NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show in Forbes received 580 entries from 91 wineries. During the three days of judging, about 480 litres of wine were poured and 3000 glasses used, which all have to be washed and dried.
Starting in 1992, the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show is now the largest of its kind. The Hunter Valley’s de luliis Wines owner and winemaker Mike de luliis was again the Chairman of Judges for the 2015 Show, leading a team of six judges and three associate judges. The Show used a blind tasting process and there were two judging panels. Each judge scored the wine out of a total of 20 points; three for colour, seven for smell and ten for taste with a combined score of 60.
A gold medal was awarded to the wines that scored 55.5+ points, a silver medal for between 51-55 points and a bronze medal for wines that scored between 46.5-50.5 points. 40 wines were awarded with gold across 29 classes, with Silkman wines 2014 Reserve Chardonnay taking out the Clear Image Trophy for best white wine in show, and Lerida Estate 2014 Lake George Shiraz Viognier winning the Vintec Transtherm Trophy for best red wine in show.
Following the event, a public tasting evening was held at the Forbes Youth and Community Centre with community members invited to go and taste the range of wines entered into the show. A wine dinner with a five-course meal catered by Eat Your Greens and featuring trophy wines will be held at the Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel on Friday 19 September. Tickets can be purchased from Banderra Estate Cellar Door at McFeeters Motor Museum and BWR Accountants.