NSW Small Winemakers Show celebrated its 25th year of competition with one of the highest medal strike rates. With 548 entries received from 96 small producers that crush a maximum of 500 tonnes annually, the show also saw the largest diversity of wine regions and styles awarded medals in the show’s history. More than half of the entries (51.3%) received a medal – the highest ever recorded at the show – with 6.2% awarded gold, 9.6% silver and 35.5% bronze.
The Orange region came out on top winning 4 of the 17 trophies awarded, with the Hunter Valley and South Coast regions winning 3 trophies each. Other regions to win trophies were Mudgee, Riverina, Hilltops, Canberra District and Central Ranges. Once again, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Semillon classes were strong, with an increase in quality also evident in Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
“This year really demonstrated the diversity and quality of NSW wines, with gold medals and trophies from a number of regions. It is also really wonderful to see new producers doing so well,” said Chairman of Judges, Mike De Iuliis of De Iuliis Wines.
The major trophy winners are:
Clear Image Best White Wine of Show – 2009 Coolangatta Estate Wollstonecraft Semillon (South Coast); Vintec-Transtherm Best
Red Wine of Show – 2015 Horner Wines Little Jack Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Ranges); Winetitles Best Boutique White Orange Region Top Winner Wine of Show – 2009 McLeish Estate Reserve Semillon (Hunter Valley), Winetitles Best Boutique Red Wine of Show – 2015 McKellar Ridge Shiraz Viognier (Canberra District). For a full list of trophy winners go to www.nswwineshow.com.au