AceHighWine

I can’t think of too many wine shows where plastic figures of Simpsons stalwarts Mr Burns and Comic Store Guy are perched conspicuously on the speaker’s mantle.

But just because the Swan Valley vignerons have a sense of humour, don’t think for a second that they don’t make serious wine - far from it. It’s just the region’s laidback and completely unpretentious spirit manifesting itself and ensuring that the Valley never wanders from its current place of residence which is close to my heart.

Just as in previous years, many of the same names were announced during official proceedings at the 2007 award dinner (though unlike previous years, the party has moved from The Vines to the excellent and almost-magical Caversham House where staff set new standards for function and event quality of service) but there were a couple of new additions to the winners list.

During his address to the dinner guests, chief judge and local legend Dorham Mann stressed many of the same points the valley vignerons had heard before, but packaged in a succinct and easily digestible format.

“We can all be proud of what’s coming out of this region,” he surmised at the end of his address and understandably so, says I. While the region’s strengths are still its shiraz (37 wines out of a total entry list of 270 were entered into the show’s shiraz class) and verdelho, I feel there’s a lot more diversity in the wine being made by the area’s vignerons. Those classic sunshine in a bottle characters are still there and while I love them dearly, it’s also nice to have some slightly softer and more understated wine styles being made in the Valley. There was not a bad wine among the line up tasted at the tasting before the dinner officially started and I was particularly impressed with the depth of the verdelho collection that had been assembled.

Touching on the winners list, congratulations to Laura and Derek at Upper Reach for their good showing. For a while, Upper Reach shiraz has enjoyed a somewhat cult-ish status for its amazing approachability and finally this year, the Pearse’s efforts had been recognised with their 2006 offering being named as best shiraz and best table wine made from Swan Valley fruit.

Reflecting the region’s down-to-earthness, an award was also presented for the best value for money which was won by Moondah Brook for its ‘07 chenin blanc - another grape that traditionally has always fared well in the Valley.

In what has boiled down to a good-natured two horse race between the Talijancich and Kosovich clans (with a field of some very fine runners mind you) over the last few shows, this year’s gong for best fortified was won by Talijancich for the Julian James Reserve Muscat NV. The wine was also named as wine of the show, further reinforcing the Valley’s belief in fortifieds as one of its real strengths.

The team at Sitella also had a good night, first with its ‘06 Margaret River cabernet getting up for a win while the company as a whole was named as best exhibitor of table wines and best overall exhibitor at the show.

The Swan Valley is my fave West Australian wine region, not least because of its close proximity to the city, but because it’s wines are great and it’s people even better. It’s a shame that the festivities of the annual Spring in the Valley are the only chance people get to experience the wonders of Perth’s “Valley of Taste”, but then again, it’s better to have people visiting the region than not.

Fingers crossed local vignerons get a few return visits from all those buses zipping up and down Reid and Great Eastern highways this October. www.swanvalley.com.au

Best Verdelho
Sponsored By SVRWA
Neilson Estate Wines Verdelho 2007

Best Dry White Table Wine (grown outside Greater Perth Zone)
Sponsored By Labelworld (WA) Pty Ltd
Sandalford Wines Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007

Best Shiraz
Sponsored By SVRWA
Upper Reach Shiraz 2006

Best Dry Red Table Wine (grown outside Greater Perth Zone)
Sponsored By SVRWA
Sittella Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Best Swan Valley GI Table Wine
Sponsored by Midland Brick
Upper Reach Shiraz 2006

Best Value for Money Wine
Sponsored By Alcan Packaging Capsules of Australia
Houghton Wine Co Moondah Chenin Blanc 2007

Best Museum Wine
Sponsored by SVRWA
Houghton Wine Co Museum Release Verdelho 1998

Best Dry White Table Wine
Sponsored By Australia Post
Western Range Julimar LR Chardonnay 2006

Best Dry Red Table Wine
Sponsored By Cospak O/I
Upper Reach Shiraz 2006

Best Fortified Wine
Sponsored by SWAT Winery & Vineyard Supplies
Talijancich Wines Julian James Reserve Muscat NV

Best Wine of Show
Sponsored by City of Swan
Talijancich Wines Julian James Reserve Muscat NV

Most Successful Exhibitor of Table Wines
Sponsored by Laffort Oenologie Australia
Sittella Wines

Most Successful Exhibitor
Sponsored by Midland Redevelopment Authority
Sittella Wines

While most parochial West Aussies like me will be happy to see the locals do well at their home show, I suspect there would be few happier with the results of this year’s Perth Royal Wine Show than the Vasse Felix mob.

After high profile winemaker Clive Otto “left” the highly-regarded Margaret River winery two years ago, the media attention on Vasse Felix wasn’t entirely complimentary, particularly when Otto was named by Winestate magazine as the 2005 Australian winemaker of the year shortly after parting ways with the Holmes à Courts.

Since then, much change has taken place at Vasse Felix, particularly with the winemaking side of things after former Alexandra Bridge winemaker Virginia Willcock was named as new chief winemaker.

One of Virginia’s first jobs after taking over from caretaker winemaker David Dowden in October 2006 (who has since left Vasse Felix) was to blend the ‘06 Heytesbury Chardonnay and judging by the swag of trophies it collected at this year’s show, she did a very good job of it.

In addition to helping shine the media spotlight onto Vasse Felix for the right reasons, she’s recruited a handful of young, passionate winemakers to the winemaking team and also changed the team’s structure to be more horizontal rather than hierarchical.

When word of Vasse Felix letting go of Clive Otto started making its way through the industry’s grapevine, I heard about five different “theories” about why and the positions of antagonist and protagonist were cast different in each scenario, but regardless of what the real story was, this show success could be the start of a round of Chinese whispers where Vasse Felix’s name comes up smelling nothing but roses… or even better, a generous pour of the ‘06 Heytesbury Chardy.

I’m also happy to report that Vasse Felix wasn’t the only sandgroper success story to emerge from this year’s show: in an announcement that’s starting to sound like a broken record, the Houghton Wine Company again won the title of Most Successful West Australian Exhibitor - a feat they’ve achieved no less than seven times in the last nine years.

While on the subject of Houghtons, the winery’s parent company, the Hardy Wine Company, also won the gong for best Sparkling Wine, courtesy of the Hardys Sir James Tumbarumba 2001 (which will be released in 2008 under the Sir James Vintage label as a late disgorged sparkling - a glaring example of one of the shortcomings of wine shows were judges may look and applaud a wine that hasn’t been released yet, but by the time it comes out, the consumers may be getting something different to what the judges tasted).

Amazingly, this accolade for the Sir James is the 10th consecutive Best Sparkling Wine trophy won by the Hardy Wine Company at the Perth Show and the 20th consecutive best sparkling trophy awarded to the company at Australian capital city wine shows - that’s quite a feat by anyone’s standards are a shining testament to the work of the group’s sparkling winemaker Ed Carr.

Juniper Estate picked up two open class gongs for its 2007 Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, further reinforcing Margaret River’s reputation for quality when it comes to the region’s perennial sem-sav blend.

Other successful Margaret River exhibitors included Briarose Estate (Briarose Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - Best Cabernet Sauvignon), Brookland Valley (Brookland Valley Estate Merlot 2004 - Best Merlot) and Windance Estate (Windance Shiraz 2005 - Best Western Australian Dry Red Table Wine) while Flying Fish Cove were named as the Most Successful Western Australian Exhibitor processing under 300 tonnes.

Normally acclaimed for its riesling (which is consistently fantastic), Porongorup producer Castle Rock Estate was instead recognised for its packaging design at this year’s show.

Click here or the picture of Virginia at the top of the story to view snapshots taken during the show judging

THE ALCAN PACKAGING CAPSULES OF AUSTRALIA TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Riesling in Classes:
· 3 Dry White Riesling – 2007 Vintage
· 25 Dry White Riesling – Commercial Class
· 39 Dry White Riesling – Mature Class
WON BY: Wolf Blass Wines Pty Ltd
Wolf Blass White Label Riesling 2002 Vintage
Class 39

THE LA VIGNA LIQUOR TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Semillon in Classes:
· 6 Dry White Semillon – 2007 Vintage
· 26 Dry White Semillon – Commercial Class
· 41 Dry White Semillon – Mature Class
WON BY: Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd
Vat 1 Semillon 1998 Vintage
Class 41

THE EVANS AND TATE TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Chardonnay in Classes:
· 4 Dry White Non Oaked Chardonnay – 2007 Vintage
· 5 Dry White Oaked Chardonnay – 2007 Vintage
· 14 Dry White Chardonnay – 2006 Vintage
· 27 Dry White Chardonnay – Commercial Class
· 40 Dry White Chardonnay – Mature Class
WON BY: Vasse Felix Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2006 Vintage
Class 14

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (INC.) TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Verdelho in Classes:
· 10 Dry White Verdelho – 2007 Vintage
· 43 Dry White Verdelho – Mature Class
WON BY: Houghton Wine Company
Houghton Museum Release Verdelho 1998 Vintage
Class 43

THE HLB MANN JUDD TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Sauvignon Blanc in Classes:
· 9 Dry White Sauvignon Blanc – 2007 Vintage
· 42 Dry White Sauvignon Blanc – Mature Class
WON BY: Shepherds Hut
Shepherds Hut Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Vintage
Class 9

THE WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Dry White Table Wine (Blends) in Classes:
· 1 Dry White Blends – 2007 Vintage, Semillon/Sauvignon
Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon dominant
· 2 Dry White Blends – 2007 Vintage, other than varieties
eligible for Class 1
· 28 Dry White Blends – Non Oaked – Commercial Class
· 29 Dry White Blends– Oaked – Commercial Class
· 38 Dry White Blends – Mature Class
WON BY: Juniper Estate
Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Vintage
Class 1

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (INC) TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Sweet White Table Wine in Classes:
· 12 Sweet White Table Wine – 2007 Vintage
· 31 Sweet White Table Wine – Commercial Class
· 44 Sweet White Table Wine – Mature Class
WON BY: Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard
Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling 2006 Vintage
Class 44

THE COURT WINE BAR TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best 2007 Vintage Dry White Table Wine in Classes:
· 1 Dry White Blends, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon dominant
· 2 Dry White Blends, other than varieties eligible for Class 1
· 3 Dry White Riesling
· 4 Dry White Non Oaked Chardonnay
· 5 Dry White Oaked Chardonnay
· 6 Dry White Semillon
· 7 Dry White Viognier
· 8 Dry White Chenin Blanc
· 9 Dry White Sauvignon Blanc
· 10 Dry White Verdelho
WON BY: Juniper Estate
Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Vintage
Class 1

THE VINTAGE CELLARS TROPHY
Trophy donated by Liquorland Australia Pty Ltd
· Trophy donated for Best Sparkling Wine
WON BY: Stanley Wine Company
Sir James Tumbarumba Cuvee Pinot Noir
Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 2001 Vintage
Class 58

THE COSPAK PTY LTD TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Western Australian White Table Wine
WON BY: Vasse Felix Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2006 Vintage
Class 14

THE DR JACK HOFFMAN TROPHY
Trophy donated by 2nd Friday of the Month Club
Trophy donated for Best White Table Wine
WON BY: Vasse Felix Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2006 Vintage
Class 14

THE STEWART VAN RAALTE (PENNANT HOUSE) TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Shiraz in Classes:
· 16 Dry Red Shiraz – 2006 Vintage
· 21 Dry Red Shiraz – 2005 Vintage
· 35 Dry Red Shiraz – Commercial Class
· 46 Dry Red Shiraz – Mature Class
WON BY: Wolf Blass Wines Pty Ltd
Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2004 Vintage
Class 46

THE FRIENDS RESTAURANT TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Pinot Noir in Classes:
· 18 Dry Red Pinot Noir – 2006 Vintage
· 23 Dry Red Pinot Noir – 2005 Vintage
· 36 Dry Red Pinot Noir – Commercial Class
WON BY: Gravitas Wines Ltd
Gravitas Marlborough Pinot Noir 2006 Vintage
Class 18

THE WATERFORD WEDGWOOD TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Merlot in Classes:
· 19 Dry Red Merlot – 2006 Vintage
· 24 Dry Red Merlot – 2005 Vintage
· 48 Dry Red Merlot – Mature Class
WON BY: Brookland Valley
Brookland Valley Estate Merlot 2004 Vintage
Class 48

THE WINE SOCIETY TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Classes:
· 17 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon – 2006 Vintage
· 22 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon – 2005 Vintage
· 34 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon – Commercial Class
· 47 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon – Mature Class
WON BY: Briarose Estate
Briarose Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Vintage
Class 22

THE FREMANTLE WINE AND FOOD CLUB TROPHY
Trophy donated for the Best Dry Red Early Drinking Wine in Class:
· 33 Dry Red Early Drinking – Commercial Class
WON BY: Not Awarded

THE IAN SMITH MEMORIAL TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best 2005 Vintage Dry Red Table Wine in Classes:
· 20 Dry Red Blends
· 21 Dry Red Shiraz
· 22 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon
· 23 Dry Red Pinot Noir
· 24 Dry Red Merlot
WON BY: Chateau Reynella
Chateau Reynella Shiraz 2005 Vintage
Class 21

THE VINTAGE CELLARS TROPHY
Trophy donated by Liquorland Australia Pty Ltd
· Trophy donated for Best Dry Red Table Wine (Blends) in Classes:
· 15 Dry Red – 2006 Vintage
· 20 Dry Red – 2005 Vintage
· 37 Dry Red – Commercial Class
· 45 Dry Red – Mature Class
WON BY: McWilliams Wines Pty Ltd
McWilliams 1877 Cabernet Shiraz 2004 Vintage
Class 45

THE WITCH’S CAULDRON TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Western Australian Dry Red Table Wine
WON BY: Windance Wines
Windance Shiraz 2005 Vintage
Class 21

THE HERBERT LESLIE PENFOLD-HYLAND MEMORIAL TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Dry Red Table Wine
WON BY: Wolf Blass Wines Pty Ltd
Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2004 Vintage
Class 46

THE STERLING WINE AUCTIONS AND EXCHANGE TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Fortified Wine
WON BY: Morris Wines
Morris Old Premium Liqueur Tokay NV Vintage
Class 49

THE WESFARMERS FEDERATION INSURANCE TROPHY
Trophy donated for Most Outstanding Packaging Design
WON BY: Castle Rock Estate
Albany, Western Australia

THE BANKWEST WA WINE PRESS CLUB TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Western Australian Wine
WON BY: Vasse Felix Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2006 Vintage
Class 14

THE SUPA STIK LABELS TROPHY
Trophy donated for Most Successful Western Australian Exhibitor
processing under 300 tonnes
WON BY: Flying Fish Cove

THE WESFARMERS FEDERATION INSURANCE TROPHY
Trophy donated for the Exhibitor whose 5 or more judged entries
gained the highest average points
WON BY: G Gramp & Sons
Number of points = 17.13
(which is the average points per entry)

THE BILL JAMIESON TROPHY
Trophy donated for Most Successful Western Australian Exhibitor
WON BY: Houghton Wine Company
Total – 39 points
4 Gold
4 Silver
7 Bronze

THE ILLA CORTI TROPHY
Trophy donated for Best Wine of the Show
WON BY: Vasse Felix Pty Ltd
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2006 Vintage
Class 14

THE AUSTRALIA POST TROPHY
Trophy donated for Most Successful Exhibitor of the Show
WON BY: McWilliams Wines Pty Ltd
6 Gold
7 Silver
17 Bronze

Click the picture above for a gallery of shots from this year’s judging (opens in a new window)

As a “younger” piece of the wine industry’s complex puzzle, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I sometimes take what surrounds me for granted. The overload of information from all directions makes keeping up to date a challenge, but I still try to educate myself about the industry’s Technicolor history: the trailblazing done by industry icons such as Croser, Halliday, Evans et al et al, the stories behind today’s biggest brands, the different roles wine has played in the day-to-day lives of Australians… it’s the Neverending Story Part Three.

But it’s a story that the events of this year’s Sheraton Perth Wine Awards - as well as the 31 years separating today and the inception of the event - have helped fill a few holes in.

While the results are the pot of gold of every wine show rainbow, hearing the tale of how wine writer Stuart van Raalte took a borrowed trailer loaded with sawdust, screen-printed certificates and a cache of economy-class-traveling wines from South Perth to Lilac Hall 31 years ago is what adds depth and saturation to the seven-colour spectrum made famous by one Roy G. Biv.

And while the Sheraton show has enjoyed the input of all the aforementioned luminaries plus many other big national and international vino names, one has been affiliated with the awards since day zero: John Hanley. As this year’s show celebrated its 30th anniversary, so too did the seemingly evergreen chief judge: three decades of steering the influential West Australian show.

In previous years, the show has helped thrust names like Alkoomi and Pierro into the public spotlight, but as the annals will show - the 2007 show will be remembered for shining a spotlight on to the fallen-from-grace Evans & Tate for all the right reasons: congratulations to Richard Rowe and his team for the gong for the ‘05 Wildberry Springs Chardonnay (if only I can dig out my tasting note for this stellar single vineyard drop - it’s somewhere in my sty) and being named as joint winners for the award of best exhibitor in show.

The “Big names” also outperformed against the crowd favourites taking out 12 of the 22 accolades awarded proving that (failing a Cuisine-esque Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc controversy of course) it’s not just all marketing and spin doctor-created smoke and mirrors at the business end of the market.

In closing, congratulations to all involved in this year’s show: here’s to another three decades of helping to promote Western Australia’s wine industry.

2007 Sheraton Perth Wine Awards 2007 results

If there is no gold medal listed for a class, one was not awarded for that category.

Class No. 1 Dry White Riesling

SILVER MEDAL:
Castle Rock Estate Riesling 2003

GOLD MEDAL:
Ferngrove Vineyards Estate Riesling 2007

Class No. 2 Dry White Sauvignon Blanc

SILVER MEDAL:
Wine by Brad Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Class No. 3 Dry White Semillon

SILVER MEDAL:
Sitella Wines Semillon 2007

GOLD MEDAL:
Evans and Tate Semillon 2004

Class No.4 Dry White Verdehlo

No Silver or Gold awards to be presented in this class.

Class No.5 Dry White Chardonnay

SILVER MEDAL:
Chalice Bridge Estate Chardonnay 2006

GOLD MEDAL:
Evans & Tate Wildberry Springs Chardonnay 2005

Class No. 6 Dry White – Other Varieties or Blends of Varieties

SILVER MEDAL:
Houghton Wine Company Chenin Blanc Chardonnay Tokay 1998

GOLD MEDAL:
Goundrey Wines Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007

Class No. 7 Sweet White Table Wine

SILVER MEDAL:
Amberley Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Class No. 14 Sparkling Wine Red or White

No Silver or Gold awards to be presented in this class.

Class No. 8 Dry Red Rose

SILVER MEDAL:
Moondah Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Class No. 9 Dry Red Pinot Noir

SILVER MEDAL:
Wignalls Wines Pinot Noir 2006

Class No. 10 Dry Red Merlot

SILVER MEDAL:
Palandri Wines Merlot 2005

GOLD MEDAL:
The Growers Merlot 2004

Class No. 11 Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon

SILVER MEDAL:
Palandri Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

GOLD MEDAL:
Ferngrove Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Class No. 12 Dry Red Shiraz

SILVER MEDAL:
Windance Estate Shiraz 2005

GOLD MEDAL:
Brookland Valley Shiraz 2006

Class No. 13 Dry Red Other Varieties or blends of Varieties

SILVER MEDAL:
Goundrey Wines Shiraz Voigner 2005

GOLD MEDAL:
Houghton Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004

Class No. 15 Fortified Wine Any Style

SILVER MEDAL:
Jane Brook Estate Wines Verdelho n/v

GOLD MEDAL:
Talijancich Wines Pedro Ximenes 1965

Sheraton Perth Hotel “MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR” AWARD

The three winners are:

Ferngrove Vineyards Estate
Evans & Tate
Brookland Valley

SHERATON PERTH HOTEL CHAIRMAN’S AWARD FOR THE “BEST INDIVIDUAL ENTRY”

Evans & Tate Wildberry Springs Chardonnay 2005

Talijancich - Leeuwin Estate Award

Damien Hardy

Considering the region’s national and international clout, the Margaret River Wine Show undoubtedly attracts plenty of interest from wine drinkers both casual and serious. The results for this year’s shows are in and the trophy and award winners are as follows:

TROPHY WINNERS

Best Wine of Show (Sponsored by MRWIA)
Windance Cabernet Merlot 2004
Most Successful Exhibitor (Sponsored by Visy)
Evans & Tate
Best Cabernet Sauvignon (Sponsored by Laffort Oenologie)
Heydon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Best Chardonnay (Sponsored by Portavin)
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2005
Best Museum (Sponsored by MRWIA)
Brookland Valley Reserve Chardonnay 2002

AWARD WINNERS

Best Cabernet Sauvignon Predominate Blend (Sponsored by Cospak/O-I)
Windance Cabernet Merlot 2004
Best Sauvignon Blanc (Sponsored by Amcor Fibre Packaging)
Hamelin Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Best Semillon (Sponsored by Labelworld)
Brookland Valley Semillon 2005
Best Semillon/ Sauvignon Blanc Blend (Sponsored by Vinline Bottling and Filtration)
Flinders Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006

In my mind, the winner’s list reflects the state of wine in Margaret River at the moment, striking a pretty good balance between new and established names. Some may attribute this to a lack of entries from the region’s most prestigious names - Cullen and Leeuwin are auspicious omissions from the list of submitted wines - but by and large, it looks like the little guys who are coming up are more than just riding on the coat tails of the region’s big names (a claim that once held merit). While discussing the merit of the wine show system is a surefire way of stirring up controversy in the industry, there’s no doubt these events play a major role in spreading the gospel of a region’s wines. Also, for the smaller names looking for that big break, success often comes in the shape of regional show success.

Incidentally though, good to see the 2005 Cape Mentelle Chardonnay get up for the best chardy award - it’s such a magnificent drop. Incidentally, the ‘04 Devil’s Lair copped a silver so it’s good to see the work of Stuart Pym getting the props it deserves. One Margaret River up-and-comer to keep your eyes peeled for is Arimia: its Mudlarks Sauvignon Blanc 2006 picked up a gold medal in the Sauvignon Blanc class and their wines have simply gone from strength to strength over the past two vintages with some really interesting varietals in the range.

Anyhow, I’m sure I’ll be adding more thoughts as I get a chance to really go over the results list. Word on the street was that this year’s show featured a record number of entries so if there’s one definitive guide to what’s hot and what’s not in the region, I can’t think of a better one than the results from this show.

By the by, if you want to find out about all things wine-related in Margaret River, check out the Margaret River Wine Association’s website at www.margaretriverwine.org.au

This year’s Perth Royal Wine Show has come and gone and will no doubt incite plenty of discussion among those in the industry, especially with the bulk of the awards going out of Western Australia. An interesting observation made by one of the associates to me: with all that’s been about high alcohol wines, it’s strange to see that the Tintara Shiraz and Eileen Hardy Chardonnays (both multiple trophy winners) both getting up on the night. I can’t comment on what the winning wines were like as I was unable to make it to Friday’s exhbitor’s tasting, but both these wines veer towards the “bigger” style of table wine.

The results are long, so I’ve decided to split it up for the benefit of visitors to the site. Those curious to find out who made this year’s winners list, simply click on.