‘Diversity rules’ as record number of regions and grape varieties feature in Sydney International Wine Competition winners circle‘Diversity rules’ as record number of regions and grape varieties feature in Sydney International Wine Competition winners circle
Great value, food-friendly wines once again make their mark
The Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC) produced an illustrious list of medal winners, with ‘diversity’ of wine regions and wine varieties key features of the 36th annual competition.
A total of 1812 wines from nine countries were entered into this year’s competition, with 100 different grape varieties and blends represented.
New Zealand once again dominated the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir varieties, while Australia led the way with Shiraz and Cabernet, and France confirmed its world-leading position in sparkling wines, with the 2005 Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage taking out the Best Wine of Competition.
‘Emerging’ grape varieties featured prominently in the Trophies list, with the Peter Lehmann H & V Tempranillo 2014 taking out two trophies, the Chairman of Judges’ trophy was awarded to a Waimea Gruner Veltliner, and Portugal’s Casa Santos Lima, Companhia das Vinhas SA LAB Red was also recognised with a trophy.
For a second year in a row, food friendly ‘good value’ wines performed strongly in the competition, with Aldi’s 2015 South Point Rosé (A$4.99) joined in the medal-winners’ circle by their Tudor Shiraz 2014 (A$12.99), which once again took out the trophy for Best Lighter Bodied Dry Red Table Wine of Competition (shared with Angove’s Family Crest Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2014 (A$19.99)).
Seven wines costing under A$15 per bottle from the most successful winery of the Competition, New Zealand’s Yealands Wine Group, received medals.
The Sydney International Wine Competition is unique amongst wine shows in that wines are judged alongside food to best replicate the consumer experience.
An international panel of 13 judges, led by Chairman of Judges Kym Milne, initially blind-tasted all the entrants, and then tasted the 400 leading wines alongside appropriately matched food to decide the award winners.
A total of 288 wines were then selected for TOP 1OO™, Blue Gold, and Gold awards, and 31 of these also received a trophy (full list attached).
Chairman of Judges, Kym Milne praised the quality of this year’s entrants, singling out the impact of cool climate wines across a wide range of wine styles, particularly Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz varietals.
Milne also highlighted the wide range of grape varieties to have featured in the list of award winners: “The Lighter Bodied Whites class featured wines made from Pinot Gris, Verdelho, Semillon, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends, Vermentino, Gruner Veltliner, Sauvignon Gris, Albarino and Savagnin,” he said. “Add to this list an Italian Pecorino from the Marche region that received a Gold medal and there is a lot of fascinating quality wines available to the consumer to choose from. The Gruner Veltliner I selected for the Chairman of Judges Trophy this year is a very good example of this alternative variety.”
Milne also commented on the growing success of Tempranillo which “rated very highly and showed the exciting potential for this variety in the warmer regions of Australia.
“This wine competition is all about providing the consumer with a range of wine options for a range of different dining situations, and I believe the competition has once again achieved this. A real diversity of wine styles, produced from an ever increasing range of grape varieties, has attracted Top 100, Blue Gold, Gold or Highly Commended status. It is pleasing to see not just diversity between the classes, but also within the classes, providing the consumer with some really interesting options of wines with which to experiment.”
Milne, who has been SIWC’s Chairman of Judges for the past 12 years, praised the efforts of SIWC founders Warren and Jacquie Mason, who will hand over the reins of the show in 2016.
“From its small beginning in the early 80’s when Warren developed this competition within the NSW branch of the International Wine and Food Society, the competition has grown under his guidance into a tremendously successful consumer focused wine competition,” he said.
“The first of its kind to offer wine consumers the results of wines tasted at the table alongside appropriate food, it remains the pre-eminent wine show of its kind. The food also deserves a special mention. For well over 20 years Jacquie Mason created and prepared all of the dishes for the competition judging and I can say from my many years involvement the food has always been superb.
“The new Directors of the competition, Brett and Michaela, were heavily involved in the organization and running of this year’s competition and have a great enthusiasm for the competition – I am in no doubt the competition is in good hands.”
Public tastings of the 2016 Sydney International Wine Competition award winners will be held on Saturday, 6 February 2016 at the Menzies Hotel, Carrington Street Sydney.
Session 1: 10.00 am to 12.30 pm. Tickets: AU$44.00.
Session 2: 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Tickets: AU$55.00.
Special Christmas offer: 10% discount for two or more tickets when purchased before Christmas.
Bookings and full details of the Competition and its background: www.top100wines.com
Click here to see the full list of Sydney International Wine Competition Trophy Winners 2016
Source: The Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC), 8th December 2015
