By Ian Neubauer
The Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC) today announced the highly commended, Top 100 and Blue-Gold Award winners for 2008.
Founded in 1982, the SIWC differs from mainstream wine competitions in that labels are judged on their versatility in accompanying food. Finalists are divided into 13 categories—from lighter to full bodied—and assessed beside food dishes of similar flavour and intensity.
Included among the highly commended labels were the Wild Rock Wine Company‘s Vin Gris and Zonte’s Footstep’s Dry Rose. Zonte took home two Blue-Gold Awards for its Bin 777 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and George Wyndham Shiraz Grenache.
Founder and competition director Warren Mason said the SIWC is designed to provide consumers with practical information for matching wine to food. “Over the years, the SIWC has gained a reputation for being a wine show offering results that are of real benefit to the wine consumer,” he said.
The Top 100 and Blue-Gold Award winners will be exhibited for public tasting March 15 at The Menzies Hotel in Sydney. The event will comprise a morning session to showcase Sparkling, dry white, Rose and dessert wine, and an afternoon session covering dry red and fortified wines. Tickets are priced at $66.
Full results, including details on trophy winners, will be announced March 1 at the competition’s Trophy Presentations Degustation Banquet.