WINEWISE SMALL VIGNERON AWARDS
PREVIOUS AWARDS:
2010 Small Vigneron Awards: Full Details and Results
"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
Now in its 22nd year, the premier wine show for small wine producers who crush 250 tonnes or less for their own label in the year in which the Awards are held. The Awards recognize excellence in boutique winemaking, the heart and soul of the Australian Wine Industry. The Awards pioneered judging wines in small regional groupings so that distinct regional styles are encouraged.
Together with a very economical entry fee, the Awards give small vignerons the opportunity to receive an evaluation of their wines according to the highest Australian show standards by one of Australia's most experienced judging panels. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are allocated and Trophies awarded to the best varietals and blends.
Nick O'Leary, Phil Trickett, Sarah Pidgeon & James Halliday
2011 WINEWISE SMALL VIGNERON AWARDS TROPHY WINNERS
Best Riesling: 2010 Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling (Pooley Wines, Tasmania)
Best Semillon: 2010 Mistletoe Reserve Semillon (Hunter Valley, NSW)
Best Chardonnay: 2009 Hutton Triptych Margaret River Chardonnay (WA)
Best Sauvignon Blanc: Not Awarded
Best Semillon or Sauvignon Blend: 2010 Warner Glen Estate Frog Belly
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (Margaret
River, WA)
Best Other Dry White: 2010 Baillieu Vineyard Viognier (Mornington
Peninsula, Vic)
Best Sweet White: 2008 Lillypilly Noble Blend (Riverina , NSW)
Best Sparkling Wine: 2005 Hugh Hamilton The Strumpet Chardonnay Pinot Noir (Adelaide Hills,
SA)
Best Pinot Noir: 2008 Barringwood Park Mill Block Pinot Noir
(Tasmania)
Best Shiraz: 2009 Harcourt Valley Vineyards Barbara's Shiraz (Bendigo, Vic)
Best Cabernet Sauvignon: 2008 Saracen Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, WA)
Best Tempranillo: Not Awarded
Best Other Red Varietal: 2009 Hugh Hamilton The Oddball Saperavi (McLaren Vale, SA)
Best Bordeaux Blend: 2009 Saracen Estates Cabernet Merlot (Margaret River, WA)
Best Classic Australian Blend: 2009 Sandhurst Ridge Fringe Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon (Bendigo, Vic)
Best Other Red Blend: 2010 Mount Majura Vineyard TSG [Tempranillo,
Shiraz, Graciano] (Canberra District, ACT)
Best Fortified Wine: Chambers Rosewood Grand Muscat ( Rutherglen, Vic)
Most Successful Exhibitor: Sons Of Eden (Barossa, SA)
with the following Gold Medal Winning
Wines:
·
2009 Sons Of Eden Kennedy GSM
·
2009 Sons Of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz
·
2008 Sons Of Eden Remus Shiraz
·
2008 Sons Of Eden Romulus Shiraz
Judging was held in Canberra on 14-16 July 2011. James Halliday, Ian McKenzie, David Bicknell, Tim Knappstein and Andrew Spinaze each led a panel of three judges in this year's Awards, chaired by Winewise editor Lester Jesberg.
Gold and Silver Medal Winners in the 2011 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards also qualify for entry to the 2011 National Wine Show of Australia. Reviews of these wines were published in the August 2011 edition of the Winewise Magazine: Subscribe Now
Full Results of the 2011 Awards : Click Here.
List of Exhibitors and Contact Details: Click Here
Chairman's Comments:
" In my role as Chairman of the Winewise Small Vigneron Awards (SVA), I enjoy the luxury of tasting the judges’ best wines, and working with them to decide on the trophy winners. This year I think the top wines achieved standards that hadn’t been reached in the SVA before.
Bearing that in mind, the multiple Gold medal winners are particularly worthy of mention. Coolangatta Estate (Shoalhaven Coast, N.S.W.): 3 Gold medals; Mistletoe (Hunter Valley, NSW): 3; Paringa Estate (Mornington Peninsula, Vic.): 3; Saracen Estate (Margaret River, W.A.): 4; Sons of Eden (Barossa Valley, S.A.): 4 and Thomas Wines (Hunter Valley, N.S.W.): 3. What’s more, four of that select group – Coolangatta Estate, Mistletoe, Paringa Estate and Thomas Wines - have all won multiple Golds in the SVA previously.
Another aspect of the Small Vigneron Awards impressed and intrigued me. The work being done by some small makers with “alternative” varieties and blends makes them leaders in the wine industry. Here I’m happy to turn the spotlight on a handful of wines that every wine enthusiast should try. All are Gold medal winners.
- 2010 Baillieu Vineyard Viognier – Mornington Peninsula
- 2010 Collector Lamp Lit Marsanne – Canberra District
- 2010 DogRock Degraves Road Shiraz Grenache Tempranillo - Pyrenees
- 2009 Hugh Hamilton The Oddball Saperavi – McLaren Vale
- 2010 Mount Majura Vineyard TSG (Tempranillo, Shiraz, Graciano) – Canberra District
- 2011 Tscharke Girl Talk Savagnin – Barossa Valley
Through this competition we learn not only who the best small wine producers of Australia are, but also the directions in which they are heading. These are exciting times indeed, and Winewise is at the forefront of the action. "
Lester Jesberg
2011 Judging Panel:
Chairman:
Lester Jesberg (Winewise)
Panel Chairs:
James Halliday AM
Ian McKenzie (Consulting Oenologist)
Tim Knappstein (Riposte Wines)
David Bicknell (Oakridge, Yarra Valley)
Andrew Spinaze (Tyrrell’s Wines)
Judges:
Bryan Currie (West End, Griffith)
Adam Foster (Syrahmi, Heathcote)
Sarah Pidgeon (Wynns, Coonawarra)
Simon Killeen (Stanton & Killeen, Rutherglen)
Corinna Wright (Oliver’s Taranga, McLaren Vale)
Lex Howard (Winewise)
Deb Pearce (Winewise)
Len Sorbello (Winewise)
Phil Trickett (Winewise)
Ray Wilson (Winewise)
Associates:
Xanthe Freeman (Freeman Vineyards, Hilltops)
Nick O’Leary (Nick O’Leary Wines, Canberra)
David Yeates (Winewise)
