Results are in from the Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia, held in Mount Barker recently.
Results are in from the Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia, held in Mount Barker recently.
Brookland Valley took top honours winning best wine in show for its 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.
The Margaret River winery also won the Wine Industry Association of WA trophy for the best older dry red wine for its 2001 Brookland Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Howard Park’s fare was also a favourite with judges, winning accolades for its 2004 Mad Fish Riesling, which collected three trophies (one being the notable JS Gladstones Trophy awarded to the wine displaying the best regional character).
Howard Park owner Jeff Burch says it was a great effort from chief winemaker Michael Kerrigan and his team.
“This result reaffirms our strong belief that the Great Southern, in particular the Porongurups and Mt Barker sub-regions, are ideal for producing top rieslings,” he says.
Other winners at the event included: Lamont Wines – best wooded chardonnay and best older dry white wine for its 2002 Chardonnay; Happs – Ian Tyrer trophy for the best cabernet for its 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon; and Houghton Wines – Lionel Samson/Plantagenet Wines award for the best shiraz, for its 2002 Gladstones Frankland River Shiraz (in addition to being the most successful exhibitor overall).
Qantas Mount Barker chairman of judges Huon Hooke was impressed by many of the wines on show.
“It was a thoroughly pleasurable show. I was impressed by the rieslings from 2004 and older, and chardonnays were impressive,” he says.
“Generally chardonnay is one of the biggest and most disappointing classes in wine shows, but not here – they were understated, showed complexity and used very subtle oak.”
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Eagle Vale Wines, which featured in last week’s Gusto Vino, has added Paul Ogilvie to its team.
Mr Ogilvie’s role will involve looking after local sales in Perth, and assisting Eagle Vale owner Steve Jacobs in export and sales to the eastern States. Mr Ogilvie says he is excited about his new position, especially because of the fantastic potential and quality of the brand.
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Must Wine Bar will host Grosset Wines owner Jeffrey Grosset at a dinner on Wednesday November 17.
The Clare Valley winemaker will visit WA to showcase his wines, comprising some of Australia’s greatest rieslings.
Mr Grosset was recognised for his rieslings in 1998 when he was awarded riesling wine-maker of the year at an inter-national riesling summit in Hamburg. He was also voted Australian winemaker of the year in 1996.
