The 2010 International Cool Climate Wine Show Trophy Winners
The pick of cool climate wines from Australia and New Zealand
Robyn Lewis
Aerial view of Paringa Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
The competition was tough this year in the 11th annual International Cool Climate Wine Show, recently held in Mornington, Victoria. Entries were up to 680 wines in 25 classes, and certainly the quality of the wines we saw was very high.
The panel of expert judges included Chairman Mike de Garis, an experienced winemaker and judge in both New Zealand and Australia; Meg Brodtman MW, a senior wine show judge; Jane Boyle, Product Strategy Manager for New Zealand Wine Cellars; Tim Goddard, wine judge in Hong Kong and other shows, and Manager of Cool Wine, Tasmania; and Nick Glaetzer, a young and dynamic winemaker now at Frogmore Creek in Tasmania.
The classes included:
- sparkling vintage and non-vintage wines,
- 2009 vintage chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, pinot noir, other dry reds including roses,
- 2008 vintage sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, other dry whites including viognier and gewurtztraminer, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and blends thereof, shiraz, other dry reds;
- 2007 vintage pinot noir, 2007 and older chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, merlot, cabernet sauvignon or blends thereof, shiraz;
- 2006 and older pinot noir.
Medals were handed out relatively sparsely. Some classes were not medalled, particularly for older wines (2007 and older dry reds and whites). Of the 680 entrants, only 27 were awarded gold, 57 received silver and 214 received bronze (see the full list here). Personally and after tasting some of the wines at the awards dinner, I think the judges were being somewhat harsh, but wine shows exist to provide a benchmark and to help winemakers improve, as well as the increasing use of medals in marketing, so the bar was set high.
The trophies, awarded across all classes to the most outstanding, were hotly contested. Congratulations to the growers and makers of the following outstanding cool climate wines, particularly Yarrawood who took out wine of the show, and Helen's Hill Estate in the Yarra Valley, who won three trophies.
Look out for these wines to buy and drink now, or to cellar away. See their related entries below for more information on the winemakers and location of the vineyards and wineries.
Best Wine of the Show, sponsored by The Federal Hotel Group in conjunction with Balnarring Travel and Cruise
Yarrawood - Tall Tales Shiraz 2008
People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Balnarring Travel and Cruise in conjunction with Kirra Tours
Lalla Gully – Riesling 2008
Best Red Wine, sponsored by Australia Post
Yarrawood - Tall Tales Shiraz 2008
Best White Wine, sponsored by Peninsula Party Hire
Helen's Hill Estate - Chardonnay 2008
Best Pinot Noir 2009, sponsored by 3MTR
Macedon Ridge - Pinot Noir 2009
Best Pinot Noir 2008, sponsored by Amcor Australasia
Villa Maria - Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2008
Best Pinot Noir 2007, sponsored by Vince & Associates
Terrace Heights Estate - Estate Pinot Noir 2007
Best Pinot Noir 2006 or older, sponsored by Luigi Bormioli
No award
Best Chardonnay, sponsored by Luigi Bormioli
Helen's Hill Estate - Chardonnay 2008
Best Pinot Gris, sponsored by Chisholm Institute
Matua Valley - Secret Stone Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009
Best Sauvignon Blanc, sponsored by Plasdene Glass-Pak
Villa Maria - Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Best Estate Made & Bottled White, sponsored by Peninsula Wine Country
Helen's Hill Estate - Chardonnay 2008
Best Estate Made & Bottled Red, sponsored by Peninsula Bulk Meats
Paringa Estate - 'The Paringa' Shiraz 2008
Best Sparkling Wine, sponsored by Monash University Food & Beverage Management Program
Brown Brothers Milawa - Patricia Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2005
Best Current Vintage Cool Climate Estate, sponsored by Somerville Egg Farm
Villa Maria
Best Mature Vintage Cool Climate Estate, sponsored by Ingham
Villa Maria
Best Cool Climate Shiraz, sponsored by Hillview Quarries
Yarrawood - Tall Tales Shiraz 2008
Regions
- Mornington Peninsula (VIC)
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The 11th International Cool Climate Wine Show was this year held in May 2010, at a new venue in Mornington. This year there were a record 680 entrants from both ... A total of 298 medals were awarded to these winning wines »
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