This year’s KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show saw more than 2300 wines tasted across 66 classes, with Penfolds 2017 Reserve Bin 17A Chardonnay named the KPMG Perpetual Trophy Winner for Best Wine of the Show.
Held across four days last week at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, entries from every wine region of Australia passed the lips of the 31 expert industry judges, including Guest International Judge Fongyee Walker MW, with Chardonnay having a strong showing among the gold medal and Trophy winners.
P-J Charteris, the Chair of Judges for the 2018 show paid tribute to the diversity seen among this year’s winning wines.
“This really was testament to the traditional wine regions stepping up with quality offerings and the newer regions in wine showing what they are capable of now and into the future,” he said.
“It is exciting to see as judges the traditions being maintained in what Australia is known for internationally in wine, yet the emerging and smaller wineries putting their stake in the ground through newer varietals and blends.
“The 2018 Royal Sydney Wine Show marks the 192nd year of the show and a turning point for the Australian Wine Industry.
“The last few harvest seasons have seen demand outstripping supply and as a result we are seeing improvements in quality as evidenced by the medal tallies across most classes in the show.
“As supply tightens we are seeing prices, particularly for wine bound for export increasing, which is important for the overall health of our industry.”
Angus McPherson, Managing Director, ANZ and Europe, was understandably delighted with the win, saying: “Treasury Wine Estates is absolutely thrilled with the trophies awarded to Penfolds Reserve Bin 17A Chardonnay for Best Wine of Show and Seppelt NV Original Sparkling Shiraz for Best Sparkling Red at the 2018 Sydney Royal Wine Show. This is outstanding recognition of the quality of wine across our portfolio, and the brilliance of our winemakers.”
Kym Schroeter, Penfolds White Winemaker and the person responsible for making Reserve Bin A, added: “Reserve Bin A articulates the fruit complexity and mouth-watering attributes of cool-climate Adelaide Hills Chardonnay. We are so fortunate to source grapes from some of the very best sites in the Adelaide Hills, heightening the structural definition and charm of this distinctive style. This wine is the result of many years of experimentation and refinements that have evolved since the inaugural 1994 vintage.”
This year’s show had 2332 entries, a record number, with 34 trophies awarded, plus 120 gold medals, 276 silver and 791 bronze.
Last Friday also the Wine Communicators Australia (WCA), host the Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy Winners lunch, where this year’s NSW Legend of the Vine was named, with wine writer Huon Hooke recognised.
“The name Huon Hooke is synonymous with wine knowledge and his words of wine wisdom are respected globally. His outstanding contribution to the national and international wine world has made him a highly respected figure among both his professional peers and the wine public,” said WCA National Chair Angus Barnes.