Hunter Valley Rewards Great and Small (video)

By Andrew Starke in the Hunter Valley

Trophies for the 2010 Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show were shared between an eclectic mix of up-and-coming and established wineries, with Tempus Two awarded Best Dry White Wine and Tyrrell’s Vineyards awarded Best Dry Red Wine.

Other respected Hunter Valley wineries to collect trophies included First Creek, Phat Wine, Drayton Family Wines, Pepper Tree Wines, De Iuliis Wines, Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard, McGuigan Wines and McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Winery.

A total of 768 exhibits from 100 Hunter Valley exhibitors were judged by a senior panel of respected palates, led by chairman of judges, Iain Riggs and including guest International judge, New Zealand wine editor and speaker, Bob Campbell.

“The Hunter Valley Wine Show is not only a showcase of everything that is great about the oldest commercial wine region in Australia but a chance for small and large, new and old hands to put their wines forward for an independent assessment of quality,” Riggs said.

“The 2010 Wine Show didn’t disappoint in this. All up 377 medals for a strike rate of 49 percent and of those 64 were Gold medals. New exhibitors like Phat Wine Company and old hands such as Tyrrell’s and McWilliam’s held up the tradition of fine Semillon, Verdelho and Shiraz.”

Riggs added that he was pleased by the spread of trophies between small and large wineries.

A new exhibitor, Phat Wines, picked up two Trophies for 2010 Semillon and this is a project of First Creek winemaker Damien Stevens and partner/winemaker Jodie Belleville.

Liz Jackson also of First Creek had an exceptional show as not only did First Creek perform strongly but wines that she made at Tempus Two when working there swept all before them.

“11 companies shared the Trophy spoils from the Valley’s largest winery to the smallest,” said Riggs. “The Hunter Valley wine industry is obviously in good hands.”

The Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show this year celebrated its 28th year and is widely regarded as the country’s leading regional show.

It has a strict regional focus and is exclusively for wines whose grapes are grown in the Hunter Valley.

Trophies were officially presented at a luncheon held at Brokenwood Winery on Friday, August 20 with over 350 members of the local wine industry in attendance.

To watch an interview with chairman of judges Iain Riggs, click on the video below.