THE LIMESTONE COAST - WINEMAKING AT ITS BEST

The Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council is expecting a strong response to entry calls for the 11th annual Limestone Coast Wine Show, which has set new benchmarks for quality wine from the south-east corner of South Australia.

The October 2011 event will have a strong Mount Gambier focus in recognition of the newly defined Mount Gambier Wine Region, which earned official GI status at the beginning of the year.

“We are extremely committed to promoting the Wine Show as an all-inclusive, multi-regional wine event encompassing the entire Limestone Coast so it’s wonderful to be able to showcase this strong regionality,” says the Wine Show Committee’s Sarah Squire.

After two days of tasting in nearby Coonawarra, the high profile judging panel will take a tour of the Mount Gambier region, which includes vineyards in Nangwarry, Kalangadoo, Glencoe, Kongorong, Yahl, Moorak, Square Mile and OB Flat.

“Many of these vineyards could be strong contenders for the Small Batch Class, which was first introduced in last year’s Wine Show in a bid to unearth new and innovative wines which may not meet the volume criteria for the other open classes,” explains Sarah.

Mount Gambier will also host the show’s Trophy Presentation Feast at the iconic Barn Palais on 27th October, 2011, with the unique and highly prized Arthur Hoffman Trophy for Viticulturalist of Best Wine of Show among the coveted awards up for grabs.

The guest international judge for 2011 is the UK co-creator of the 100 Best Australian Wines hotlist, Quentin Johnson. After working as a marketing consultant for a number of well known companies such as Johnnie Walker and Guinness, a lifelong passion for flavour led Quentin into the wine business as a critic and international show judge.

“Quentin clearly knows his wine, but he also specialises in wine strategy and communications, helping companies create points of difference and distinction in the marketplace, so it will be fantastic to have this fresh, international perspective at our 2011 event,” says Sarah.

On 28^th October 2011, entrants, wine lovers and those simply wanting to know more about wine will be given an exclusive opportunity to sample the newly awarded 2011 gold, silver and bronze medal winners at a public tasting session at the Coonawarra Hall.

Entry forms, guidelines and details on past winners can now be downloaded by logging onto the website www.limestonecoastwine.com.au. Regular updates will also be posted on the Limestone Coast Wine Show’s new Facebook page.

The 2008 Lindeman’s Coonawarra Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet has collected a remarkable five trophies at the 2010 Limestone Coast Wine Show. After being named ‘Best Blended Red/ Other Single Red Variety’, ‘Best Red Wine’ and ‘Best Individual Vineyard Wine’, the prized drop went on to claim the Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’ after two intense days of judging this week at the Kingston District Hall. The accolades earned Lindeman’s viticulturalist Scott Jolly the major award at last night’s Trophy Presentation Feast at Norfolk Rise Winery in Mount Benson – the highly coveted Arthur Hoffman Trophy for Viticulturalist of Best Wine of Show.

Chairman of judges, Huon Hooke, declared the 2008 Lindeman’s Coonawarra Limestone Ridge “an outstanding wine”.

“It has wonderful fruit character, pinpoint ripeness with beautiful, ripe fruit, luscious flavour and excellent structure…it is a full-bodied wine with a very good length of palate,” he said. Patrick of Coonawarra was another stand-out performer at the nautical-inspired trophy feast. The family-owned company’s 2010 Patrick ‘Estate’ Riesling Wrattonbully collected the Colin Kidd Trophy for ‘Best White Wine of Show’ and the Karl Seppelt Trophy for ‘Best White Wine, excluding Chardonnay’. Winemaker Patrick Tocaciu described the win as a fantastic example of what can be achieved in an Australian cool climate.

“We’re excited by these trophies not only for ourselves but also for Wrattonbully and the entire Limestone Coast region, as this area is dominated by red varietals and not generally recognised for its riesling,” he said.

Dorrien Estate also collected two trophies – for two different entries. The 2008 Tolley Elite Chardonnay was named ‘Best Chardonnay’ and the 2008 Black Wattle Black Label Mt Benson Cabernet Sauvignon won the ‘International Judge’s Award’ after impressing guest Hong Kong judge Rebecca Leung with “its concentration and fruit intensity, texture and elegance”.

“There were a number of very outstanding wines, but I found that this one had profound structure and substance which made me hungry for more,” she said.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate was named the most successful exhibitor, claiming the H.R. (Ron) Haselgrove Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon for its 2008 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, and collecting a further two gold and three silver medals. Jacob’s Creek Wines’ 2005 Jacob’s Creek Limited Release 35th Anniversary Padthaway Shiraz was named ‘Best Shiraz’, and Majella Wines’ 2001 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon won the Ewen Fergusson McBain Trophy for ‘Best Museum Wine’.

“It’s fitting that the results were spread across the region for our 10th Anniversary year – we are extremely committed to promoting the Wine Show as an all-inclusive, multi-regional wine event encompassing the entire Limestone Coast and our winners have certainly helped to achieve that in 2010,” said chief steward Sarah Squire.

All entries in this year’s show will be uncorked and ready for tasting at the Kingston District Hall this morning (Friday October 29), offering members of the public an opportunity to sample and compare notes with the expert judging panel.

Key Tasting Times – Friday, 29th October
9am-11.30am: Exhibitor’s Tasting Session, Kingston District Hall (Possible interview opportunities with medal winners.)
11.30am-1.30pm: Public Tasting Session, Kingston District Hall