Top Drops take Centre Stage at Wine Show

By Amy Looker

A who’s who of the Australian wine industry gathered at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday (Feb 18) to celebrate the trophy-winning wines of the 2011 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show.

Hosted by the Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA), the standout event gives guests the chance to taste a selection of the trophy-winning wines, which were announced at the awards presentation ceremony on the previous evening.

Outstanding performers at the show included Peter Lehmann Wines, whose 2005 Margaret Semillon was named best wine of the show.

Click on the video below to hear more from Peter Lehmann Wines chief winemaker, Andrew Wigan.

Another standout performer was Treasury Wine Estates, who claimed ten trophies across its extensive portfolio.

Click on the video below to hear from Treasury Wine Estates fine wine ambassador, Simon Cant.

While semillon was the clear star of this year’s show, shiraz officially topped the medal tally, which saw 36 trophies and 982 medals awarded.

Among the medal winners were the Yarra Valley’s Innocent Bystander winery, who took home a gold medal for its 2010 Pinot Noir.

“Picking up a gold medal from the impressive line-up of entries is a great recognition and reflection of the quality of the wine that Innocent Bystander has produced over the past few years,” said Innocent Bystander’s head winemaker, Steve Flamsteed.

Starvedog Lane’s chief winemaker, Paul Lapsley, was equally delighted with his winery’s trophy for best sparkling wine, awarded to the 2004 Starvedog Lane Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier.

“This trophy reaffirms to us that we are on the right track with Starvedog Lane sparkling, making cutting-edge, contemporary wines with complexity and great personality, while profiling the best the Adelaide Hills has to offer,” said Lapsley.

Goundrey Estate also took home a trophy for its 2010 Goundrey Homestead Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.

“We are ecstatic about being awarded a trophy at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, which we consider one of the most prestigious wine shows in Australia,” said Goundrey winemaker, Garth Cliff.

“The success the 2010 Goundrey Homestead Semillon Sauvignon Blanc has already achieved is fantastic and highlights the talent we have in our viticulture and winemaking teams.”