Registrations have opened for the 14th annual Young Gun of Wine (YGOW) competition.
Designed to celebrate and showcase young wine labels and young winemakers on the rise, YGOW is open to those making all forms of wine, from the experimental to the traditional, either under their own label or employed by a wine company.
As well as celebrating the winners, YGOW is also about creating a movement and an exciting culture around wine.
Nick Stock, head of the YGOW tasting panel, is calling for diversity in the participants:
“The rising tide of interest, capability, ambition and quality in Australia’s emerging winemaking circles is what we are looking to bring together. It’s a gathering of many tribes. It forms and galvanises friendships and ideas. It’s empowering as much as it is a very good time.”
There are five winemaker trophies up for grabs: Best New Act, People’s Choice, Winemaker’s Choice, Young Gun of Wine, and the First Drop Danger Zone (which goes to the most adventurous wine).
Damon Koerner, co-founder of Koerner Wine in the Clare Valley, won YGOW this year, receiving plaudits for his 2018 Grace Riesling and 2018 La Corse Red Wine. He entered the competition four times before he walked away with the trophy, and has joined the tasting panel for 2020.
“For me the greatest benefit of participating in YGOW has been the people have mmet and friends I have made,” he explains. “The events bring together the best emerging winemkaers and young labels from all over the country.
“The more we interact and talk about what we are doing, the better will all get, which will only improve the status of the Australian wine industry, and benefit all of us in the long run.”
Early bird registrations for the 2020 YGOW are now open, with first choice of events options available until 16 August.
For more details about how to register, click here.