This year’s Australian Small Winemakers’ Show in Stanthorpe received 1620 entries from around Australia and New Zealand. 42 Queensland wines were entered in the show. An impressive set of judges, headed by Mike Farmilo from Boar’s Rock in McLaren Vale, looked at 49 classes and awarded 857 medals (more than 50% of all entries).
The Queensland success story of the show was the haul of medals and trophies awarded to Golden Grove Estate with 5 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 7 bronze medals. The winery was awarded the Trophy for Most Successful Queensland Exhibitor. The 2009 Tempranillo was awarded the Best Queensland Red Wine and the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc the Best Queensland White Wine.
And that’s not all – Golden Grove Estate was named the Champion Small Winery of the Show.
Golden Grove Estate is a family-owned and operated winery located at Ballandean on the Granite Belt. Father and son team of Sam and Ray Costanzo undertake the roles of viticulturist and winemaker respectively with Grace responsible for the smooth operation of the cellar door. For the second time in recent years, Ray received the Award for Technical Excellence in Queensland Winemaking. Golden Grove Estate concentrates on alternative varieties with Durif, Mourvedre, Nero D’Avola and Tempranillo receiving gold medals at the show.
View all the results of 2012 ASWS
Congratulations to the Wine Committee of the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society who conduct such a well organised and well-respected wine show and provides Queensland producers with the opportunity to benchmark their wines against wines from wineries of comparable size from throughout Australia (and New Zealand).
