Adelaide Hills Wine show lunch at Mt Lofty House
I was lucky enough to be invited to the Adelaide Hills Wine Show lunch last week, where all the winning wines from the Adelaide Hills Wine Region were announced. Held in the gorgeous grounds of Mt. Lofty House the day showed all the signs of being a happy and very long one, as hundreds gathered to celebrate the wines of this cool climate region. While I wasn’t able to stay until stumps, I was thrilled to have the chance to try each of the winners with lunch and came away seriously impressed with the standard and grateful to have access to such amazing wines.
AHWS trophies
Vineyards are not really all that new to the Adelaide Hills. “While the first vines in SA were planted in the Adelaide Hills in the early 1840s, we are not bogged down by tradition. We have an eclectic bunch of young entrepreneurs complemented by more established wineries and winemakers, who are all keen to try new things” said Adelaide Hills Wine Region Chairman Tom Keelan. “It’s a diverse and dynamic place to be and this wine show reflects that.”
This diversity was displayed by the broad range of winners, as one of Australia’s largest and most famous winemakers and some of its smallest artisanal producers rubbed shoulders in the winner’s circle on Friday. 102 wineries exhibited 495 wines this year, up by more than 10% on 2013, and 248 medals were presented, up by 40% in 2013, showing the ongoing “premiumisation” of the Adelaide Hills region.
Winner – Kym Schroeter, White Winemaker from Penfold’s , Craig Dodd Mount Lofty House
Check out all of the winners below and get in quick to grab some seriously good holiday cheer. My picks for the day were the Jericho Adelaide Hills Fiano and the drop-dead-gorgeous Catlin Montepulciano – both are alternative varieties which are doing well up here and increasing in popularity.
Adelaide Hills Regional Wine Show 2014 Trophies
Best Wine of the Show
2013 Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay Sponsored by Mount Lofty House
Best Sparkling Wine of the Show
2011 Malcolm Creek The Reginald Sponsored by Vinocor
Best Riesling of the Show
2014 Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch Riesling Sponsored by Prowine
Best Sauvignon Blanc of the Show
2014 O’Leary Walker Sauvignon Blanc Sponsored by National Wine Centre
Best Chardonnay of the Show
2013 Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay Sponsored by St Martin
Best Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Show
2014 Howard Vineyard Clover Pinot Gris Sponsored by Hahn Corporation
Best Gruner Veltliner of the Show
2014 Tomich Woodside Vineyard Gruner Veltliner Sponsored by TK Print
Best White Wine in Classes other than Classes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
2014 Jericho Adelaide Hills Fiano
Sponsored by Air Liquide
Best Rosé of the Show
2014 Hahndorf Hill Rosé Sponsored by Collotype Labels
Best Pinot Noir of the Show
2013 Wicks Estate Pinot Noir Sponsored by F Miller & Co
Best Cabernet Family or Blend of the Show
2013 Kakaba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sponsored by RSN Australia
Best Shiraz of the Show
2013 Murdoch Hill ‘The Cronberry’ Sponsored by Laffort
Best Red Wine in Classes other than Classes 9, 10, 11, 12
2013 Catlin Montepulciano
Sponsored by Udder Delights
Best Wine in Museum Classes
2009 Ashton Hills Estate Pinot Noir Sponsored by Fuller Brand & Communication
Wine Show Committee’s Award of Recognition
Prue Henschke
Sponsored by Nadalie
Most Successful Exhibitor
Wirra Wirra Vineyards Sponsored by Geek IT
Cellar Door Award
Scott & La Prova
Sponsored by Stephen George
Lambs’ Ears and Honey was a guest of Fuller.
What beautiful images. I do love the look of the trophies – how unique! xx
What gorgeous trophies indeed! Obviously very well deserved too
Cong to all winners.