A new red wine trophy will be added to the awards line-up for the 2013 Limestone Coast Wine Show. Entries open today for the 13th annual event being held in late October, and producers of single varieties like merlot, sangiovese and tempranillo will now be in the running for a Best Dry Red ‘Other’ Trophy sponsored by Torresan Estate Contract Wine Bottling and Packaging.

“These wines were previously being judged alongside regional blockbusters like cabernet and shiraz, but due to the increase in production and interest in recent years, we thought they should compete on a separate playing field,” said the Wine Show Committee’s Bruce Gregory. “Of course they still have the opportunity to compete against those varieties for the David Wynn Trophy for ‘Best Red Wine of Show’ and the Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’, so it will certainly make for an exciting judging process.”

A surge in the popularity of sparkling wine has also prompted wine show organisers to revamp the Sparkling Wines class and break it down into four separate exhibition classes. Rose and Sparkling Red will now have its own category, with a further three classes being offered for the white varieties – Tank Fermentation, Time on Lees and Lower Gas (ie. Moscato).

“In the past, all sparkling entries were placed in a single class regardless of the production process, but we have identified that there is a wide variety of sparkling in this region – and strong interest from consumers – so it made sense to broaden the scope,” said Mr Gregory.

The new classes and trophy are expected to attract strong interest from producers, who have until Friday 6th September to nominate their top drops. Entry in the show is open to any winery that produces wine using fruit from the Limestone Coast Zone, and at least 85 per cent of that fruit also needs to be local. Judging will take place over three days in Coonawarra from October 28-30, and the winners will be announced at a Trophy Feast at the Naracoorte Town Hall on October 31st, 2013, hosted by the Wrattonbully Wine Region. The dinner menu will be matched with previous Wine Show trophy winners and is expected to be another sell-out, prompting organisers to place tickets on sale from today.

“It’s the first time people will be able to purchase dinner tickets online at the same time as they enter the show, so we encourage people to move quickly in order to ensure that they don’t miss out,” said Mr Gregory.

Entry forms for the Limestone Coast Wine Show are available at limestonecoastwine.com.au

Editors: For further information or interviews, please phone Bruce Gregory on 0409 670 139.

Key dates – 2013 Limestone Coast Wine Show:
Deadline for entries: Friday, 6 September 2013
Exhibit delivery: 14-18th October 2013
Judging: 28-30th October 2013
Presentation dinner: 31 October 2013, hosted by Wrattonbully Wine Region
Exhibitor & public tasting: 1 November 2013