By Andrew Starke
The annual Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show 2011 judging and awards will be held this week (Aug 15-19).
The show will see many of the Hunter Valley’s finest wines compete for medals and trophies with international wine buyer Chuck Hayward a guest judge.
Hayward is the New Zealand and Australian wine buyer for JJ Buckley, one of the largest internet wine retailers in the United States based in Oakland, California.
Chairman of Judges, Iain Riggs said taking into consideration the tough climatically challenging vintages and a natural attrition of marginal vineyards, there will be plenty of exciting wines to look forward to.
“I expect the 2011 whites from the Hunter Valley to be led again by Semillon, but by all reports Chardonnay could be the standout,” he said.
“On the red wine front, 2009 and 2010 offered the winemakers a chance to release fine flavoured, silky structured reds.”
This year 732 wines from 92 exhibitors will be judged, these being slightly down in number on the 2010 judging.
The Trophies will be announced in front of 400 local industry, media and wine industry trade, at the Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine Show Celebrations luncheon being held at Tyrrell’s Wines on Friday (Aug 19).
For a full month’s program, individual event details and tickets, click here.