MEDIA RELEASE
29th October 2014
Gold medals are guaranteed for the 2014 Limestone Coast Wine Show when the results are revealed tomorrow night in Coonawarra. A judging line-up featuring Beijing wine educator Fongyee Walker, winemakers Stuart Watson (Woodlands Wines, WA) and David Morris (Morris Wines, Rutherglen), wine writer Jane Faulkner, and Sydney sommelier Patrick White have spent this week examining 418 of the region’s most prized drops. Chairman of judges, Andrew Wigan, says they have been highly impressed.
“My panel did the big 2012 Cabernet class on Tuesday and Jane Faulkner’s did the Shiraz class. They are two of the major classes of the show and the standard right across the board was very high,” he said. “The 2012 vintage was very good and the expectations of the judges were high and we weren’t disappointed; we saw some terrific examples of wines from that vintage.”
Yesterday also saw the judging of the 2013 Chardonnay class, and Mr Wigan confirmed that at least one gold medallist is among them. “It was a wine that showed a lot of complexity”, he said. “There has also been a couple of Sauvignon Blanc golds awarded and they were terrific, and a couple of Riesling golds, and this is probably all a reflection of the fact that the 2014, 2013 and 2012 vintages have all been very good quality, and we are starting to see the results on the judging table.”
The final classes will be judged this afternoon (Wednesday), with Thursday morning set aside to allocate the trophies. The winners will be announced at tomorrow night’s sell-out Limestone Coast Wine Show Trophy Presentation Feast being held at the historic Katnook Woolshed. 2013 Arthur Hoffman Trophy winner, Trent Brand, will be a guest speaker at the dinner, which will be matched with previous wine show trophy winners in a festive finale to the intense judging process.
“We are thrilled with the way this week has unfolded and would like to thank the band of volunteers who are working behind the scenes to make everything happen, not to mention the record 86 exhibitors who have willingly presented their wines for such close scrutiny,” says the wine show committee’s Sarah Pidgeon. “As a wine community, there is much to learn from comparing the results of our endeavours and collaboratively celebrating our success.”
This year’s Wine Show medal winners will be available for public tasting on Friday October 31st at the Coonawarra Hall from 11.30am – 1.30pm ($15 admission including results book).
Editors: For further information or interviews, please phone Sarah Pidgeon on 0412 825 149.
Attached image caption: Chair Andrew Wigan assessing this year’s entries; Judging is underway inside the Coonawarra Hall.
www.limestonecoastwine.com.au