Tassie wines win big

TASMANIA is punching above its weight when it comes to incredible wines.

Results of the 2020 Royal Hobart Wine Show were announced via a livestreamed event on Thursday evening.

With about 500 entries from across the country, it was a massive two days for the allTasmanian panel, including chief judge Jeremy Dineen of Josef Chromy, Meadowbank’s Peter Dredge, Mona’s Pip Anderson, Bay of Fires’ Penny Jones, Pooley Wines’ Anna Pooley, Josef Chromy’s Ockie Myburgh, and Brown Brothers’ Tom Wallace.

Mr Dineen said the quality of wines this year was high, with the judging itself a long but enjoyable process.

“In some ways, despite the COVID restrictions and all the extra hoops we had to jump through to make sure everyone is safe, judging with a really small team is quite fun and quite easy,” he said.

Tasmania came out on top, winning five out of six medals, with only one mainland vineyard scoring a trophy.

Best riesling went to Jim Barry Wines from South Australia’s Clare Valley for its 2017 Single Vineyard McKay’s.

Pinnacle Drinks took out the award for best chardonnay for its 2019 Vandemonian Coal River Valley Pinot Noir.

The gong for best other whites was awarded to Eddystone Point’s 2020 Pinot Gris.

Kreglinger Wine Estate’s 2019 Pipers Brook Pinot Noir took out its category, with best sparkling awarded to House of Arras’s 2009 Arras Grand Vintage.

Mr Dineen also announced his choice for the Chairman’s Trophy.

“Normally the champion wine of the show would be picked from one of these other trophies, but I didn’t think that was the right way to go,” he said. “It’s just my choice for a wine that nearly got one of these trophies but just missed out.”

He announced Jansz’s 2015 Vintage Cuvee as the winner.