HILLTOPS wines are the toast of the National Cool Climate Wine Show with four vignerons picking up a total 18 of awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The show, which is now in its 21st year, attracted 782 wines from 123 exhibitors throughout Australia's cool climate wine growing areas.
Judges handed out 318 medals during the gruelling four-day judging process, with top honours going to Orange winemaker Tamburlaine Organic Wines for its 2019 Orange Reserve Riesling.
In the Hilltops, McWilliam's Wines Group Ltd scored the highest gong with a gold medal for its 2016 Barwang Regional Cabernet Sauvignon in the 'Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and older vintages' class.
McWilliams also received a bronze medals for its 2018 Barwang Regional Chardonnay and 2019 Barwang Regional Shiraz.
The most medals, however went to Moppity Vineyards with 11 bronze awarded for a variety of its wines including: chardonnay, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and nebbiol.
Typically the reds were better than most of the other varieties.
- National Cool Climate Wine Show chief judge Tim Knappstein
Ballinaclash received two bronze medals during the show, for its 2018 John Shiraz and 2018 Joe Shiraz.
Grove Estate also received two bronze medals, for its 2018 The Cellar Block Shiraz and 2018 Hilltops Shiraz.
Chief judge Tim Knappstein praised the high standard of entries at this year's show.
"Overall the standard of entries was very good. The only weakness was in the 2017 shiraz and chardonnay, and typically the reds were better than most of the other varieties," he said.
He also said the standard of entries had improved over his time judging and exhibitors had become more professional because of the show.
Publicity officer Dr Donald Alexander said the show awarded 228 bronze medals, 59 silver and 31 gold to wines entered into the show.
"It reaffirms the original idea of setting up the show, which was to improve the quality and standard of cool climate wines in Australia, and it has done that," he said.
Hilltops' top drops at the National Cool Climate Wine Show
Grove Estate
- 2018 The Cellar Block Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
- 2018 Hilltops Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
Ballinaclash
- 2018 John Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
- 2018 Joe Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
McWilliam's Wines Group Ltd
- 2018 Barwang Regional Chardonnay, bronze (Class = Chardonnay 2018 vintage)
- 2019 Barwang Regional Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
- 2016 Barwang Regional Cabernet Sauvignon, gold (Class = Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and older vintages)
Moppity Vineyards
- Coppabella 2018 Crest Chardonnay, bronze (Class = Chardonnay 2018 vintage)
- Coppabella 2018 Sirius Chardonnay, bronze (Class = Chardonnay 2018 vintage)
- Syrah Nouveau 2018 Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2018 vintage)
- Grenache Shiraz 2018 Grenache, Shiraz, bronze (Class = Dry Red Blends 2018 vintage)
- 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, bronze (Class = Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 vintage)
- 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, bronze (Class = Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 vintage)
- 2017 Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2017 vintage)
- Reserve 2017 Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2017 vintage)
- Escalier 2017 Shiraz, bronze (Class = Shiraz 2017 vintage)
- 2017 Lock & Key Reserve Tempranillo, bronze (Class = Single Red Varieties 2017 vintage)
- Cato 2017 Nebbiol, bronze (Class = Single Red Varieties 2017 vintage)