WINEWISE SMALL VIGNERON AWARDS
"For many small winemakers Canberra’s Winewise Small Vignerons Awards is the most important Australian wine show, overshadowing the usually prestigious and larger – but to them irrelevant – Sydney, Adelaide and National Wine Shows." Chris Shanahan
2010 WINEWISE SMALL VIGNERON AWARDS
Ian McKenzie (far right) and panel: Alex McKay, Sarah Crowe and Chris Carpenter (Associate)
Judging for the 2010 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards was held in Canberra on 1-3 July 2010.
The 2010 Small Vigneron Awards were limited to producers who crushed 250 tonnes or less for their own label in the 2010 vintage. Judging by one of Australia's most experienced panels was undertaken according to the highest Australian show standards. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were allocated and Trophies awarded to the best varietals and blends. We commend all medals winners to our subscribers.
Full Results of the 2010 Awards: Click here
Chairman's comments:
“We had a record number of entries this year, in excess of 1500, which meant judging by five panels”, Awards Chair Lester Jesberg said. "We maintained the highest judging standards and while this meant that the percentage of gold medal winners was down on last year's Awards, medal winners in this show will stand scrutiny anywhere." [5.0% Gold medals; 10.7% Silver medals; and 28.4% Bronze medals as percentages of total entries].
"The best of the shiraz are world class and I'm delighted to say that the finest of them come from the Canberra district. Australia's doyen of wine judges, James Halliday AM, chaired the judging of 24 Canberra district shiraz, and declared it to be the strongest red class of the show. The quality was so high that we decided not to split the top two wines, the 2009 Nick O'Leary Shiraz and the 2009 Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier, allowing both to advance to the trophy round. The Nick O'Leary wine subsequently won the trophy for best shiraz against very strong opposition."
"The best of the chardonnays, especially those from the Victorian regions of Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Macedon Ranges were exceptional. I can't understand why the market isn't embracing wines such as these."
"The standard of pinot noir from good producers in cool regions is particularly high. A lot of consumers think pinot noir is something like a dark rosé, but this simply isn't true. They are elegant, intense and long-flavoured, making them ideally suited to modern Australian cuisine."
"The trophy winners this year are, without doubt, the best collection of wines we have ever put forward. Despite the doom and gloom of the wine glut, the standard at the top has never been higher."
List of Exhibitors and Winery Contact details: Click here
Tim Knappstein (third right) and panel: Nick O'Leary (Associate), Phil Trickett and Adam Foster
2010 Judging Panel:
Chairman
Lester Jesberg (Winewise)
Panel Chairs
James Halliday (Wine critic and author)
Ian McKenzie (Consulting Oenologist)
Samantha Connew (Tower Estate, Hunter Valley)
Tim Knappstein (Riposte, Adelaide Hills)
Tim James (Consulting Oenologist)
Judges
Alex McKay (Collector Wines, Canberra District)
Bryan Currie (West End, Griffith)
Adam Foster (Syrahmi, Victoria)
Jeremy Stockman (formerly Manager, Fine Wine, Vintage Cellars)
David Bicknell (Oakridge, Yarra Valley)
Sarah Crowe (Swish Wines, Hunter Valley)
Len Sorbello (Winewise)
Phil Trickett (Winewise)
Ray Wilson (Winewise)
Debbie Pearce (Winewise)
Associates
Nick Spencer (Eden Road, Canberra)
Chris Carpenter (Lark Hill, Bungendore)
Simon Killeen (Cassella, Griffith)
Nick O’Leary (Nick O’Leary Wines, Canberra)
Fergus McGhie (Mount Majura, Canberra)
Tim James (far right) and panel: Jeremy Stockman, Len Sorbello and Simon Killeen (Associate)
Samantha Connew and panel: Ray Wilson, Bryan Currie and Fergus McGhie (Associate)
National Wine Show of Australia Eligibilty
Gold and Silver medal winners in the Winewise Small Vigneron Awards qualify for the premium and single vineyard classes in the 2010 National Wine Show of Australia while Gold medal winners also qualify for the premium gold classes (subject to the other entry requirements). The 2010 schedule will be available on the Show's website soon: www.rncas.org.au/WineShow/site/index.php
Chairman Lester Jesberg and Stewards
Conduct of Awards:
Wines were poured by stewards “blind” and scored out of 20 by panels of three, each under the guidance of a panel chair. A gold medal wine is >18.4, a silver medal is >16.9 and <18.5, and a bronze is >15.4 and <17.0. Judges, as a matter of convention, score in full or half points e.g. 17, 17.5, 18.0, 18.5. The total scores shown in the Results pages are the sum of each panel judge's score out of a possible 60 points.
Reviews of all the Gold and Silver Medal winners will be published in the August 2010 issue of Winewise Magazine which is available by subscription only: Subscribe Now.
2009 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards Trophy Winners
- 2009 Robert Stein Riesling
- 2009 Printhie Sauvignon Blanc
- 2004 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon
- 2008 Seville Estate Chardonnay
- 2008 Oakridge Fumé Blanc
- 2008 Heafod Glen Viognier
- 2008 Bellbrae Estate Longboard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
- 2008 Delatite Late Harvest Riesling
- 2009 Pinelli Wines Breanna Rosé
- 2008 Montalto Vineyards Pinot Noir
- 2008 Goona Warra Vineyard Shiraz
- 2007 Penna Lane Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Karanto Aglianico
- 2007 Capercaillie The Clan
- 1998 Beckingham Wines Pas de Deux Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
- 2006 919 Wines Vintage Fortified
Most Successful Exhibitor: Thomas Wines (Hunter Valley)
2008 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards Trophy Winners
- 2007 Bundaleer Eden Valley Riesling
- 2006 Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon
- 2006 Brandy Creek Wines Sparkling Pinot Gris
- 2006 Mistletoe Reserve Chardonnay
- 2008 Sorby Adams Eden Valley The GT Gewürztraminer
- 2007 Wine by Brad Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
- 2006 Elgee Park Pinot Noir
- 2006 Vincognita McLaren Vale Shiraz
- 2002 Balgownie Estate White Label Bendigo Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2006 Hugh Hamilton Wines The Ratbag Merlot
- 2006 Grove Estate Reserve Nebbiolo
- 2005 Oliver's Taranga Corrina's Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Josef Chromy Wines Botrytis Riesling
- 2006 919 Wines Vintage Port
Most Successful Exhibitor: Mistletoe Wines
2007 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards Trophy Winners
- 2005 Helm Premium Riesling
- 2000 Capercaillie Semillon
- 2006 Delatite Winery Sauvignon Blanc
- 2007 Lenton Brae Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
- 2005 Montgomery's Hill Chardonnay
- 2006 Haan Hanenhof Viognier
- NV No.1 Family Estate Cuvée No.1
- 2005 Barringwood Park Mill Block Pinot Noir
- 2005 Parker Coonawarra Merlot
- 2005 Kabminye Grenache Carignan
- 2005 Morgan Simpson Shiraz
- 2005 Brookwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2004 Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Shiraz
- NV Burge Family Winemakers Wilsford Founder's Reserve Old Tawny
Most Successful Exhibitor: Capercaillie Wines