Grampians’ wine triumphs
Grampians Wine Region added momentum to its growing reputation by winning a major wine challenge shield.
It won the Western Victorian Wine Challenge, involving 130 entries from Grampians, Pyrenees, Ballarat and Henty wine regions.
Ararat hosted the 12th annual challenge, with renowned wine writer Nick Stock heading up judging for the event.
Unlike other wine shows, wine lovers were invited to get in on the action to determine the ‘people’s choice’ awards for each variety.
Members of the public attended a guided tasting of the medal-winning wines and were introduced to the art of wine-show judging.
Officials announced challenge winners at a gala awards night in Ballarat, with Grampians winning an overall shield.
Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman attended the awards night and said the result reflected the quality of wine being produced in the region.
“We’re delighted to have such high-calibre wines in the Grampians region and in western Victoria in general,” he said.
“This is a great event to support wine makers from the Grampians, Pyrenees, Ballarat and Henty regions.
“Congratulations to all medal winners.”
The award represents a major prelude to the Grampians’ Simply Shiraz festival starting next weekend. Awards: Consumers Wine of Show, Bests Wines, Great Western Riesling 2017; Judges Champion Wine of Show, Bests Wines Great Western Riesling 2017; Most Successful Exhibitor, Grampians Estate; Kym Ludvigsen Memorial Shield, Larry Sadler, Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard; Class 1: Sparkling, Consumers Prize, Seppelt Salinger 2013; Class 2: Riesling, Judges Trophy, Bests Wines Great Western Riesling 2017; Consumers Prize, Bests Wines Great Western Riesling 2017; Class 3: Chardonnay and Other White, no Judges Trophy awarded, Consumers Prize, Seppelt 2016, Drumborg Chardonnay; Class 4: Pinot Noir, Judges Trophy, Seppelt Drumborg Pinot Noir 2016, Consumers Prize, Seppelt Drumborg Pinot Noir 2016; Class 5: Shiraz, Judges Trophy, Bests Wines LSV Shiraz Viognier 2016; Consumers Prize, One Tonne Wine Company Grampians Shiraz 2015; Class 6: Cabernet Sauvignon, Consumers Prize, Glenlofty Vineyard GO Cabernet Sauvignon 2012; Class 7: Other Red, Judges Trophy, Grampians Estate GST 2016, Consumers Prize, Grampians Estate GST 2016. Class 9: Museum Red, Grampians Estate Mafeking Shiraz 2005.