GRIFFITH’S most exciting drop has been crowned in the city’s night of nights celebrating all things wine.
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A new wine to the De Bortoli range, Rose Rose, took out the chief judge’s award as well as the best rose at the Riverina Wine Show awards on Friday night.
It’s no secret Griffith does the best wine in the region and it was that skill on show at the black tie event at Yenda Memorial Hall.
De Bortoli’s Senior winemaker Julie Mortlock said it was a great night, and had a well-earned pride in the Rose Rose.
“It’s a new wine to the portfolio, and it's nice to win with something we haven't made before,” Ms Mortlock said.
“We are always keen to support these Riverina wine shows. It is important we are loud and proud about the wines we all make here in the Griffith region.
“At the end of the day, it’s a team effort to win these awards. It takes not only the wine-makers, but all of the staff right through from grapes to bottling.”
De Bortoli also collected titles for the best sweet fruity, with Deen 2015 Botrytis Semillon, and the best wine from Museum Class with Noble One 2009 Botrytis Semillon in the Australian Sweet Wine Challenge.
Nugan Estate, McWilliam’s Wines, Casella Family Brands, Calabria Family Wines also came away with plenty of accolades.
Nugan Estate’s Chief winemaker Daren Owers was “humbled” with the four awards, saying wins like this don’t come around every day.
“We are really chuffed about winning the best dry red in both the open and the Riverina sections,” Mr Owers said.
“With four trophies up against some tough competition, not just from the Riverina but from all across Australia as well.”
He thanked “the boss” Matthew Nugan, the dedicated work of the Wine Show Committee, and of course his dedicated team, some of which have been there for over a decade.
Trophies on the night were awarded for five of the shows managed by Riverina Winemakers Association, which were the Open Show, Riverina GI Awards, Australian Italian Varieties Wine Awards, Sweet Wine Challenge and Tumbarumba Wine Show.
Wine Show committee member Carrah Lymer said the entries into the shows, combined with the large attendance at the black-tie evening meant the whole process was “fantastic.”
“A few years ago we were lucky to get 100 people, but the last two years we’ve almost had 200 attend,” Ms Lymer said.
“Its gives it a real focus, and gives the night the prestige it deserves, with top-class food, entertainment and a professional comedian MC, all those things makes it a great celebration.”
Earlier in September the Riverina Winemakers Association held their 2018 wine shows to find the best of the best in region’s wines, where almost 1000 wines of reds, whites, and dessert wines were entered.
Ms Lymer said the number of entries remain on par with last year’s shows.
With other wine show entries outside of the region declining, Ms Lymer says is a testament to their incorporation of different shows like the Australian Italian Varieties Wine Awards show.
“It’s a fantastic hit, and especially given our Italian-Australian heritage and Mediterranean-like climate, it’s nice to see locals mixed in there along with entrants from areas like King Valley,” Ms Lymer said.
Australian Italian Varieties Wine Awards
- Best Pinot Grigio: McWilliam’s 480 Pinot Grigio 2018
- Best red: Nugan Estate 2016 Primitivo
- Best rose: De Bortoli Wines 2018 Rose Rose
- Chief judge’s award: De Bortoli Wines 2018 Rose Rose
Australian Sweet Wine Challenge
- Best sweet fruity: De Bortoli Deen 2105 Botrytis Semillon
- Best from Museum Class: De Bortoli Noble One 2009 Botrytis Semillon
Riverina GI Wine Show
- Best Riverina Dry Red: McWilliam’s 2017 Alternis Touriga
- Best Riverina Dry White: Calabria Family Wines 2012 3 Bridges Semillon
- Best Riverina Durif: Nugan Estate 2015 Manuka Grove Durif
- Most successful exhibitor: Calabria Family Wines
Riverina Open Show
- Red Wine of Show and Best Shiraz: Nugan Estate 2016 McLaren Vale Parish Shiraz
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