The Australian Small Winemakers Show concluded last Saturday with the highly popular Public Wine Tasting. Judging of more than 750 wines took place at the Stanthorpe Showgrounds over four days starting 16th October.
The Australian Small Winemakers Show is the national show for wine producers who crush less than 500 tonnes of grapes a year. It aims to showcase wines from Australian small wine producers whose innovative practises lead the way in introducing new wine styles and grape varieties to Australian wine consumers.
‘After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the show in 2020, the volunteer members of the ASWS organising committee were keen for the show to proceed this year’, ASWS Secretary Jim Ellway said.
The highlight of the week-long show was the Gala Presentation Dinner and announcement of the trophy winners last Wednesday night, held at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. ‘Short video recorded acceptance speeches from interstate winners were used for the first time and proved a big hit with everyone at the dinner,’ Master of Ceremonies David Oag said.
A regular exhibitor at ASWS and past winner Mandoon Estate from WA dominated the trophy list, capturing Champion Small Winery of Show, along with the prestigious Dick De Luca Memorial Trophy for Champion Shiraz and the Preben Jacobsen Steward’s Choice Award.
Grampian Estate in Victoria, another previous trophy winner at the ASWS, won the trophy for Champion Red Wine of Show.
Local winners were Hidden Creek Winery (Champion Queensland White Wine of Show) with their 2021 Viognier and St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe (Champion School Produced Wine) for their 2021 Riesling.
Andrew Corrigan from Brisbane was welcomed as Chair of Judges for 2021. Andrew has been a judge and panel chair at ASWS on several occasions, and was joined by Jess Ferguson, Steve Messiter, David Steven-Castro, Drew Mackie and Ramon Arnavas. Associate Judges Nathan Gogoll, Michelle Li, Andrew Scott, Meredith McLean and Lea Angeles completed the judging line-up.
The fully subscribed Masterclass last Wednesday is an opportunity for local winemakers to dissect selected top medal winning wines with the Chair of Judges. The Exhibitors Tasting on Friday afternoon provides local winemakers who enter the show, the opportunity to taste any of the wines including the gold medal and trophy winning wines.
Jim Ellway said, ‘members of the ASWS committee are very passionate about the show, which takes months of planning and organisation, starting a few weeks after the Agricultural Show in January’. Committee members, volunteers and friends poured more than 4000 glasses of wine over four days of judging.
Led by Chief Steward Ash Smith, the diligence and dedication of the stewards ensured the show ran smoothly and successfully. Chair of Judges Andrew Corrigan noted ‘the sign of a professionally run show is when judging proceeds smoothly and the judges are not even aware of the stewards going about their job, and that is what we experienced throughout the four days of judging’.
A total of 781 wines were entered by 153 wineries from across all states of Australia and the ACT. A total of 433 national medals were awarded by judges, consisting of 51 gold, 91 silver and 291 bronze.
(SUBHEAD)
Our trophy winners
– Champion Small Winery of Show (Highest total points scored by a winery from three wines in three different classes), Mandoon Estate WA: 6 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze.
– Champion White Wine of Show (Judges’ top choice wine from the top gold medal wines), Mandoon Estate WA 2020 Reserve Chardonnay
– Champion Red Wine of Show, Grampians Estate VIC 2019 Fields Crossing Grenache
– Champion Chardonnay Wine of Show, Mandoon Estate WA 2020 Reserve Chardonnay
– Champion Sparkling Wine of Show, Bream Creek Vineyard TAS 2015 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Cuvée Tradition Elle
– Champion Fortified Wine of Show, Anderson Winery VIC NV Classic Muscat
– Champion Winemaker (Individual responsible for making the champion red wine of show), Ryan Sudano, Mandoon Estate WA 2020 Reserve Chardonnay
– Champion Viticulturist (Individual responsible for growing the fruit used to produce the champion white wine of show), Paul Dakis, Grampians Estate VIC 2019 Fields Crossing Grenache
– Champion School Produced Wine (Wine scoring the highest points of wines produced by a school), St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe QLD 2021 Riesling
– Champion Queensland White Wine of Show, Hidden Creek Winery QLD 2021 Viognier
The full list of winners and copy of the results is available at www.asws.com.au
