Riesling has proved a popular grape at the 2017 KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show, with the 2017 RieslingFreak No. 3 from Clare Valley, taking out five awards.
The South Australian wine collected the KPMG Perpetual Trophy for the Best Wine of Show, along with four other awards:
- The Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White
- The Douglas Lamb Perpetual Trophy for Best Riesling
- The RAS of NSW Annual Prize for Best Young White
- The Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for Best State Show Wine.
RieslingFreak was established in 2009 and Head Winemaker John Hughes was understandably delighted at the recognition from the judging panel.
“My love for Riesling comes from its variety and diversity, being able to go from sparkling to fortified and dry to sweet,” Hughes said.
“We are fairly new in the game, but we are getting there.”
In all, 33 Trophies were awarded at the 2017 KPMG Sydney Wine Show following four days of intensive judging by a team of 31 wine experts.
Chair of Judges in 2017 Samantha Connew has praised both the quality and the variety of the wines presented to judges at this year’s KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show.
“Across the board, the wines rewarded demonstrate the diversity of a dynamic Australian winemaking and winegrowing community which never rests on its laurels,” Connew said.
“Riesling has a special place in the hearts of Australians as it was for many their very first venture into the world of wine decades ago and which is rightly celebrated not just for the vitality of youth but an amazing ability to age as well as reflecting a strong sense of site and place.”
In total this year’s awards saw 1212 medals awarded, although there were fewer gold medals than last year. The full list of trophy and medal winners is available on the Sydney Royal Wine Show website.