By Annette Shailer
For the first time a sparkling wine has taken out Best in Show at the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show, which was held last week.
Along with Best in Show, House of Arras won the Thorp Annual Trophy for Best Sparkling White or Rosé and the Fine Wine Partners Perpetual Trophy for the Best Wine exhibited at all capital city Royal Wine Shows in the previous 12 months.
Headed by Australia's most awarded sparkling winemaker, Ed Carr, House of Arras has been crafting cool climate wines in Tasmania since 1995.
The Evans & Tate 2013 Redbrook Chardonnay took out the Albert Chan Memorial Prize For Best White, while Chalkers Crossing 2014 CC2 Shiraz won the Dr Gilbert Phillips Memorial Perpetual Trophy For Best Red.
World-renowned French-Canadian sommelier Michelle Bouffard was impressed with the more than 2,200 wines judged at the Show.
“I have been privileged to judge wine all over the world, and on a global scale, Australian wine is very highly ranked,” Bouffard said.
“I was extremely impressed with the impeccably high standard of wines, particularly sparkling, on offer at the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show last week.
“The consistent elegance, focus, balance and complex was phenomenal!”
In her last year as Sydney Royal Wine Show committee chair, Lyndey Milan OAM said she was pleased to see the Show’s history of innovation and excellence continuing this year.
“At the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show, we pride ourselves on leading the way, being proactive and staying contemporary,” Milan said.
“This year has truly been testament to the outstanding standard of excellence we see in both the range of wines, year on year and the standard of judging.”
A total of 146 Gold medals, 276 Silver medals and 700 Bronze medals were awarded.
A full list of results and all the major award winners, is available on the Sydney Royal Wine Show website.