A RECORD number of gold medals were awarded at this year’s National Cool Climate Wine Show.
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The 19th annual show wound up at Bathurst Showground on Friday morning with judges impressed by the 802 wines entered.
In all 41 gold medals were awarded (this was up on the previous record of 35), along with 58 silver and 224 bronze.
The best wine in show went to Australia Vintage’s 2016 McGuigan Shortlist Chardonnay.
Chief steward Mark Haley said it was a successful event and judges had high praise for many of the wines entered.
“When you look at the medals, particularly the gold and silver, quality is up,” he said.
Mr Haley said the show has a good reputation among winemakers and entries were received from across Australia.
“There was a good distribution of vineyards that entered,” he said.
Chardonnay and shiraz were the most awarded varieties during the three days of judging.
The Central Ranges Trophy was hotly contested with a sparkling, Riesling, chardonnay, rose, sweet wine wine, shiraz and gewurztraminer up for judging.
“This is just for wines from Bathurst and Orange,” Mr Halyey said.
The trophy winner went to the 2013 Gilbert Family Wines Late Harvest Riesling which is grown in Orange.
The ‘varieties’ category, which includes Italian and Spanish styles wines, expanded in entries this year, Mr Haley said.
“There were three gold medals out of 16 wines [entered], and also two silver [medals were awarded] and six bronze,” he said.
“It’s a growing class and the last two years the quality has been really good.”
Mr Haley said the event will celebrate its 20th year in 2018.
“The whole idea [when creating the show] was to benchmark Bathurst wines and also cool climate wines from other regions,” he said.
“Some vineyards have entered every single year and we get around 800 entries each year.”