Wine glasses will be raised across the Granite Belt for CEO of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism John Neville as he prepares to step down after eight years in the top job.
Queensland’s Granite Belt is one of Australia’s most interesting regions, on the face of it much too far north to produce high-quality grapes. That it is able to do so is explained by its altitude, over 800m.
The southern Queensland grape producers might have missed out on the smoke taint damaging grapes in the southern states, but they have had a tough season this year, with hail and frost damaging many of the region’s crops.
Sirromet Wines began its 2014 vintage harvest this week and expect to crush 500 tonnes of grapes from its Queensland vineyards over the next three months.
A special presentation of the Samuel Bassett Award by the Queensland Wine Industry Association was made to Calvin Winks and Preben Jacobsen at the ASWS Presentation Dinner.
The Australian Small Winemakers Show held in Stanthorpe yielded a pleasing haul of medals for Queensland producers. From 205 Queensland wines entered, 58 received medals.
Ridgemill Estate 2012 Chardonnay is in good company being awarded 94 points and a regional winner in the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge. The wine is an elegant style with a good balance showing excellent use of oak.
Challenge in Vienna for products in its Le Sauvage ‘wild yeast’ range made from Granite Belt fruit. The Queensland company’s gold medal-winning wines were a newly-released 2010 Le Sauvage Shiraz Viognier, and a 2009 Le Sauvage Chardonnay.
The Ballandean Estate 2012 Saperavi was awarded the Trophy for the Champion Alternative Variety Red White and went on to be awarded the Champion Wine of the Show. View all 2013 QLD Wine Awards results here!