2013 Citi NSW Wine of the Year has been named. Now, you be the Armchair Critic…

Media Release

Friday 1 November 2013

 

2013 Citi NSW Wine of the Year has been named.

Now, you be the Armchair Critic…

 

For the Chardonnay critics out there, sitting back in your armchair, the judges have awarded Echelon Wine Partners 2012 Armchair Critic Chardonnay (RRP $21) the Citi NSW Wine of the Year, having also taken out the Trophy for Best Young Chardonnay.

 

Neither the Tumbarumba region nor the Chardonnay variety are strangers to receiving top awards at this prestigious wine show with a local counterpart, the 2001 Courabyra 805 Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier (RRP $65) being awarded the Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine for the second year running.

 

In fact a Tumbarumba Chardonnay has been named “Wine of the Year” in 3 of the last 8 years, laying claim to being one of the best Chardonnay producing regions in the country.

 

Eight of New South Wales’ 14 wine producing regions won trophies, with the oldest region, the Hunter Valley, producing 3 of the 14 trophy winners, an effort matched by the ever popular Orange region. Mudgee and Tumbarumba each produced 2 trophy winners while Canberra District, Murray Darling, Riverina and the Southern Highlands each being responsible for one trophy winner.

 

Chair of Judges, and esteemed wine critic, Huon Hooke commented on this years show overall. “Entry numbers were down this year, which may be a reflection of recent difficult vintages - especially 2011. The good news is that quality was up. The number of gold medals was high this year, and, as a proportion of total entries, very high. The judges were impressed this year at the greater spread of outstanding quality across many grape varieties, extending beyond the familiar Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon to Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Savagnin.”

 

Fruit for the Citi NSW Wine of the Year, the 2012 Armchair Critic Tumbarumba Chardonnay, (owned and distributed by Echelon Wine Partners, part of the McWilliams Wine Group), was sourced from selected established high altitude Tumbarumba vineyards, some up to 850m above sea level. According to winemaker Adrian Sparkes, having access the best quality cool climate fruit matched with high quality winemaking practices and sensitive oak treatment has allowed the creation of a seamless wine with shimmering complexity.

 

In true regional character the Hunter Valley took home the trophies for Best Young Semillon - 2013 Tyrrell’s Belford Semillon (RRP $35), Best Mature Dry White - 2007 Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon (RRP $50) and Best Mature Dry Red - 2009 De Iuliis LR Shiraz (RRP $60).

 

Orange wines claimed trophies for the Best Young Red Blend - 2012 Bimbadgen Regions Cabernet Merlot (RRP $26), Best Young Pinot Noir - 2012 Swinging Bridge M.A.W. Pinot Noir (RRP $40), Best Young Shiraz - 2011 Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Shiraz (RRP $40) and Best Organic Wine – 2010 Swinging Bridge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (RRP $45)

 

Mudgee winery Bunnamagoo produced the Trophy Winning Best Sweet White Wine for its 2010 Bunnamagoo “Autumn” Semillon (RRP $25), and the 2012 Quilty Running Stitch Cabernet Sauvignon (RRP $28) was named Best Young Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Canberra was again awarded for its top quality Riesling with the 2013 Capital Wines ‘The Whip’ Riesling (RRP $19) being named Best Young Riesling.

 

Murray-Darling producer Trentham Estate proudly collected the Trophy for Best Young Sauvignon Blanc for its 2013 Trentham Estate Sauvignon Blanc (RRP $14), Riverina producer Westend won the Trophy for Best Young White Blend for its 2012 Westend “The Boxer” Rousanne Viognier (RRP $15) while Southern Highlands producer Centennial Vineyards was awarded the Trophy for Best Young White Other Varieties for its 2012 Centennial Vineyards Woodside Savagnin (RRP $20).

 

These trophy winning wines were selected from the 44 Gold Medal wines awarded at the 2013 Awards.

Judging for this year’s awards took place on 23 and 24 September in Sydney under the watchful eye of Chair of Judges, acclaimed wine writer, Huon Hooke.

 

The Graham Gregory Award, for services to NSW Wine Industry was presented to David Lowe, of Lowe Wines. Acting Director General of NSW Department of Primary Industries Michael Bullen described David Lowe as very worthy of winning this year’s Graham Gregory trophy.

 

“David has been tireless in his efforts to lift the profile not only on the wines in his home region of Mudgee, but those produced throughout the State. He is an energetic ambassador for wine tourism and has significantly contributed to better marketing of NSW product to NSW consumers,” Mr Bullen said.

 

The Peoples Choice Award, as voted by attendees at the ‘Outstanding on the Pier’ tasting was 2001 Courabyra 805 Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier (RRP $65) with a landslide win.

 

Trophy winners, NSW Wine of the Year, Graham Gregory Award and Gold Medal winners (traditionally part of the NSW Wine Top 40) were announced on Friday 1 November at an awards luncheon at The Sebel Pier 1, Walsh Bay, Sydney.

 

The #topwines (Gold Medal winners) for 2013 have been confirmed as follows (in alphabetical order):-