Entries now open. Click here to enter on line.

Click for a copy of the wine show booklet and entry form  

  Contact

Members

 
Sue Bell, Stephen Brook, Lester Jesberg, Bryan Currie and David Morris judging the 2009 Show

GOLD SPONSORS

The Riverina Wine Show has been held annually in Griffith for over 36 years. The show is open to any Australian winemaker.

Last year the Show widened its brief to emphasise the high quality of many larger volume wines through the establishment of specialist trophies for wines with a production run of over 45,000 litres.  These wines, oftern referred to as "Popular Premium" wines, are generaly under $15 and are widely available to the public through the major liquor outlets.

The popular premium category is becoming increasingly important with retailers developing and promoting their own brands, including private labels, house labels and exclusive brands.  The Riverina Wine Show will identify the best wines in this category through the provision of trophies for the Best Red, Best White and Best Sparkling in the popular premium category.

This strategy is important to the Riverina Winemakers Association as its members are the large scale family wineries based in Griffith including Casella, De Bortoli, McWilliams, Warburn, Nugan and Westend who are very active in this market.

The Riverina is the largest wine producing area of NSW, and as the industry undergoes a period of restructuring, is poised to become the largest wine producing area in Australia. 

In 2010 all entries in a class – whether small or large production runs – will be judged together, with wines with a production of over 45,000 litres (5,000cases) eligible for the popular premium trophies – Best Red, Best White and Best Sparkling.  In recognition of the growing importance of house brands, the Show  will seek entries from the major suppliers of these.  These will be judged among the volume brands of other Australian producers as well as those from smaller, specialist producers.  The Show will continue to reward premuim wines with a range of trophies across most varietal groups.

Judging in 2010 will be headed by Ben Edwards (The Wine Guide, Victoria), Lester Jesberg (Winewise, ACT) and Simon Nunns (Coopers Creek, NZ).

Sweet Wines are now judged separately under the sweet wine challenge.

For further information contact Stuart McGrath-Kerr on 02 6964 3504 or info@riverina-winemakers.org.au .