Chardonnay Shines – RESULTS of the 2011 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show

2011 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show RESULTS

After tasting and critiquing their way through 2283 entries, the judges at the 2011 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show have awarded top honours to the best wine and brandy on offer from the Australian wine industry, with chardonnay the stand-out favourite.

Thirty six trophies and 982 medals were awarded to entries representing Australia’s top wine regions.

Peter Lehmann Wines from Tanunda, South Australia was the standout performer of this year’s Show, taking out the coveted Macquarie Group Perpetual Trophy for its 2005 Margaret Semillon, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Annual Prize for Best Semillon and the Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White Wine of Show.

The winning entry from Peter Lehmann Wines greatly impressed the expert panel of 31 judges, led by Chairman of Judges Iain Riggs.

“Peter Lehmann Wines was exceptional this year, picking up three trophies, four Gold, three Silver and six Bronze medals in total and in the process made a bold claim for Barossa semillon,” Mr Riggs said.

“At the other end of the production scale, Chapman Grove Wines from the Margaret River region also had an outstanding Show with two trophies from its four Gold medals across four different varieties.”

The 2283 entries from 405 exhibitors judged at this year’s Show covered red and white table wines, sparkling, fortified wines and brandy, with an impressive 43 per cent of entries receiving a medal.

2011 saw the Sydney Royal Wine Show become the first capital city wine show to implement a regional grouping judging system, based on the geographical indicators (GI) set out by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.

“This innovation was trialed to assess its suitability in the judging process,” Mr Riggs said.

“It allows smaller entry numbers per class and importantly less palate fatigue among the judges, but the main purpose is to judge like with like. The six judges involved in the class judged by GI were positive in their comments,” Mr Riggs said.

Wine Show Committee Chair Lyndey Milan said the standard of Australia’s chardonnay was exceptional this year.

“It was pleasing to see the depth of quality of Australia’s chardonnay with Gold medals being awarded to wineries stretching from Tasmania to Western Australia. However, the ever-reliable shiraz topped the medal tally,” Ms Milan said.

The 2011 Show saw the introduction of a new trophy. Formally the RAS of NSW Annual Prize for Chardonnay, the AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy for Best Varietal Wine Chardonnay was awarded to Wolf Blass’ 2009 White Label Chardonnay.

“Wolf Blass, while part of a much larger entity, is always a standout as a premium producer,” Mr Riggs said.
“Their work with chardonnay – now going back more than 20 years – is paying dividends. Wolf Blass had a super Show with six Gold, three Sliver and 12 Bronze medals.”

McWilliam’s Wines once again retained the McCarthy Shield for the Most Successful Exhibitor in the wines and brandy section for the fourth year in a row.

The Len Evans Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Named Vineyard was awarded to Chapman Grove Wines for its 2009 Dreaming Dog Shiraz.

All trophy winners are listed in the attached document. For a complete breakdown of Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners, visit: www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au.