BATHURST vignerons are well and truly in the big game, with 50 per cent of all wines entered in this week’s international standard show scoring a medal.
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Each year the National Cool Climate Wine Show attracts entries from across Australia and this year was no different with 809 wines entered from 161 exhibitors.
During the show, judges awarded 35 gold medals, a record for the event.
Also, 64 silver and 193 bronze were also issued.
Chief steward Mark Haley said while many well known big-brand wines entered, Bathurst winemakers have a lot to be happy about.
Wine show chair Mark Renzaglia, who is also from Renzaglia Wines, praised Bathurst’s winemakers on their great results this year.
“Fifty per cent of local vintages entered got medals this year, that’s compared to 36 per cent of overall wines that got medals,” he said.
“We’re pleased we’re competing against the really big guys with a lot of results.”
Ruth Anderson from 3 Views Wines in Bathurst said it was fantastic to receive a silver medal for her 2016 Riesling.
Sarah and Andrew Macarthur’s Grass Parrot Vineyard wines received two medals – a silver for the 2015 Shiraz Cabernet Franc and a bronze for the 2013 Shiraz.
The couple said they learn a lot on how to improve their wines from the judges.
We’re pleased we’re competing against the really big guys with a lot of results.
- National Cool Climate Wine show chair Mark Renzaglia
“This is judged to an international level it’s a real learning curve,” Mrs Macartur said.
“They [the judges] sit down and talk a lot about the wines and we can sit down and listen,” Mr Macarthur said.
Mr Renzaglia and his wife Sandy Dengate were happy with their swag of four bronze medals.
The medals were awarded for the winery’s 2014 Shiraz, 2015 Shiraz, 2014 Mount Panorama Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2015 Mount Panorama Estate Shiraz.
Mr Renzaglia said the success of Bathurst vignerons’ entries at the show was very encouraging.
“If we don’t get one [a medal], then we’re happy that the other locals got one,” he said of the Bathurst results.
“There’s competition, but there’s also camaraderie.”
Mrs Anderson agreed and said that because Bathurst’s wine industry was so small there are great friendships between the vignerons.
“We all support each other, it’s such a small industry,” she said.
“If any of us win medals that’s great,” Mr Macarthur said.
Mr Haley said there was also good success at the show for wine regions further afield.
“The Central Ranges had a record number of trophies at seven this year,” he said.
Champion Wine of the Show went to the Josef Chromy Vintage Sparkling 2010 from Tasmania.
Champion white trophy was awarded to a wine from Orange – Cooks Lot Allotment 333 Riesling 2016.
Champion red trophy went to Wine by Sam, The Victorian Shiraz 2015.