Not part of the in-crowd since 2005!

Swan Valley Wine Show 2009

The Swan show always has a homely feel about it – and not just because it’s the wine region closest to the Perth metro area.

Like the wine they produce, the vignerons of the Swan (Valley) are warm, generous and (in the main) very approachable.

While the region was once upon a time the axis of the state’s industry, the onset of wine production in the South West has stolen some of the limelight from the Swan while drinkers’ current cool-climate flavour of the month isn’t helping the warm-climate Valley’s case either.

Full-bodied and full-flavoured verdelho and chenin blanc; ripe, plummy shiraz and luscious liqueur muscats and tokay – these are the calling cards of the Swan Valley.

Fittingly – if not a little predictably – the wine of the show was awarded to a fortified with this year’s trophy going to third-generation winemakers Talijancich for an otherworldly, impeccably balanced  chocolate and raisin-powered 1969 Liqueur Tokay.

It’s not the first year the accolade has gone home with a member of the Talijancich family and certainly won’t be the last either.

Under the guidance of young winemaker Matt Bowness, both the quality and range at Sittella have been on a steady up over the years with the four trophies picked up by the Herne Hill winery (including most successful exhibitor) just desserts for the hard yards put in by the winemaking team and owners Simon and Maaike Berns.

Best Verdelho
Talijancich Verdelho 2001

Best Dry White Table Wine (Grown Outside Greater Perth Zone)
Sittella Semillon 2007

Henri Charles Veenhuyzen Memorial Trophy for Best Shiraz
Faber Vineyard Reserve Shiraz 2007

Best Dry Red Table Wine (Grown Outside Greater Perth Zone)
Sittella Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Best Swan Valley GI Table Wine
John Kosovich Bottle Aged Chenin Blanc 2006

Best value for money wine
Jarrah Ridge Rose 2009

Best Museum Wine
Western Range Gooyamin Pool Verdelho 2003

Best Dry White Table Wine
John Kosovich Bottle Aged Chenin Blanc 2006

Best Dry Red Table Wine
Faber Vineyard Reserve Shiraz 2007

Best Fortified Wine
Talijancich Liqueur Tokay 1969

Best Wine of Show
Talijancich Liqueur Tokay 1969

Most Successful Exhibitor of Table Wines
Sittella Wines

Most Successful Exhibitor
Sittella Wines