2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards Results

Celebratory Kissing underneath the Mistletoe

The nine Trophy Winners in the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards will be presented with their awards on Monday 17th October at the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards Presentation Dinner at Guillaume at Bennelong in the Sydney Opera House.

These Trophy winners were chosen from the NSW Top 40 Wines, which were selected by a panel of 20 highly regarded wine judges, Chaired by one of the country’s leading wine experts Huon Hooke, who whittled down over 820 wines to this impressive shortlist.

And the winners are…

• Trophy Best Young Chardonnay ~ Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter ($40)
• Trophy Best Young Semillon ~ Two Rivers 2011 Stones Throw Semillon, Hunter ($16)
• Trophy Best Mature Dry White ~ Thomas Wines 2006 Cellar Reserve Braemore Semillon, Hunter ($45)
• Trophy Best Young Shiraz ~ First Creek Wines Winemakers Reserve 2010 Shiraz, Hunter ($42)
• Trophy Best Young Cabernet ~ Winburndale Wines 2008 Fontana Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Ranges ($30)
• Trophy Best Young Red Other Variety ~ Logan 2009 Weemala Merlot, Central Ranges ($18)
• Trophy Best Young Red Blend ~ Logan 2009 Cabernet Merlot, Orange ($25)
• Trophy Best Mature Dry Red ~ Freeman Vineyards Secco Aged Release 2004 Rondinella Corvina, Hilltops ($75)
• Trophy Best Sweet White ~ De Bortoli 2008 Noble One, Riverina ($64)

The results reflect the great performance of Orange and the Central Ranges in this year’s Top 40, with 3 Trophies going to wines from that area, alongside 4 from the Hunter and one each from the Riverina and Hilltops.

Of these nine wines, only one can be given the ultimate title of 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year…and this year that honour goes to…

2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the year ~ Mistletoe Wines 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter Valley

Mistletoe Wines is a wonderful example of the family businesses which dominate NSW winemaking (family owned wineries account for over 75% of the total NSW crush) and shower our vineyards with care and dedication, creating wines worthy of Top Class honours. Ken and Gwen Sloan started Mistletoe Wines in 1989 and have since been perfecting the art of producing high-quality Hunter Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay. This isn’t the first award for their 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, which earlier this year collected Gold at the 2011 Winewise Awards and 2011 Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show. And last year was awarded a Trophy for the Reserve Wine of Show at the 10th International Chardonnay Challenge in New Zealand (selected from over 400 Chardonnays from around the globe.) A truly world-class wine which has been described as “a wine with intense grapefruit and white-flesh stone fruit driving its exceptional long palate.”

Everyone will have the opportunity to taste the new 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year, Trophy Winners and Top 40 Wines at the Citibank NSW Wine Awards “Best of the Best Top 40” Tasting … Discover the “best of the best” wines from the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards, either in a small group guided by one of the State’s most talented winemakers or as a self-guided tour of NSW’s diverse wine regions.

When: Thursday 20 October 2011
Where: The Cargo Hall, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay
Trade/Media Tasting 2.00- 4.00pm Pre-registration compulsory at www.nswwine.com.au
Consumer Tasting 5.00- 9.00pm $55pp including wine, souvenir wine glass, winemaker guided tour & light refreshments

This event is part of Crave Sydney International Food Festival, presented by Citibank.

Book: Tickets can be purchased online at www.nswwine.com.au

New Release | 2011 Climbing Pinot Gris

Media Release:

Sales of Pinot Gris/Grigio have now overtaken Riesling in this country and it's no wonder with wines such as the delicious, new 2011 Climbing Pinot Gris (RRP $21.95) now readily available.

Produced by Cumulus Estate Wines in Orange NSW this wine is a perfect example of an Alsatian Pinot Gris style with an Australian twist. Senior winemaker Debbie Lauritz worked in Alsace at the beginning of her career so fell in love with this variety at an early age. "It not just that I personally love this style of Pinot Gris, with its full palate of classic apples, pears, honey and fresh butter. But I also believe that our vineyard in Orange is ideally suited to such a style. Orange's high altitude, with resultant cool climate and greater concentration of UV light, does give us a unique balance of good palate weight, texture, zest and restrained elegance."

Debbie's interest in Pinot Gris and its suitability to Orange has culminated in an impressive 20 hectares of vines being planted on the Cumulus Estate. Debbie comments, "You have to have an inbuilt desire to create a top quality Pinot Gris because it is a very difficult variety to grow and is work intensive, needing heavy pruning as well as bunch and shoot thinning."

The 2011 season was working in Debbie's favour though, as the cooler than average temperatures and mature vines (with their well balanced canopies) produced less fruit, resulting in concentrated pear and apple flavours, and helped keep hold of the grapes natural aromatics and acidity.

"Getting such great fruit in 2011 was more than half the battle, but with our Climbing range we do like to carefully apply some winemaking techniques to deliver a little extra." Debbie adds.

"In this wine's case we selected three separate parcels, each picked at varying levels of fruit ripeness. The parcels were fermented separately, one held on lees and stirred weekly, and with a small proportion being barrel fermented. Blending the parcels together let us create a wine with that extra touch of complexity to layer the natural bright and elegant fruit character."

There's nothing grey about this modern style of an enticing French classic. More Pinot Greyt than Pinot Grey!

2011 Climbing Pinot Gris - RRP $21.95

Stockists: Distributed by Cumulus Wines. Available nationally though independent liquor stores.

Current Climbing wines:

Climbing Pinot Gris 2011        Climbing Sauvignon Blanc 2011         Climbing Chardonnay 2010

Climbing Merlot 2009              Climbing Shiraz 2009                          Climbing Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Taste the full range at this year's ORANGE WINE WEEK 2011…

Now in its sixth year, Orange WINE Week (21st -30th October 2011) is set to draw thousands of visitors to the beautiful wine region of Orange NSW this spring. Join them to discover why Orange has so rapidly gained a name for itself as a region of rich and diverse food & wine quality and culture.

There are over 100 events to choose from (details at http://www.tasteorange.com.au/wineweek.htm) but for something new visit Cumulus Estate Wines. For the first time Cumulus Estate Wines will be setting up their Cellar Door at one of Orange's most delightful locations, the Wentworth Gallery Restaurant. Here they will hold the 'Cumulus Winemakers' Table' – a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the winemakers what makes Orange so great - and a selection of free tastings, including all the wines from their Cumulus, Climbing and Rolling labels.  See www.cumuluswines.com.au for more information.

Noosa Food and Wine Festival Goes Global

The Noosa Food & Wine Festival has a new name - The Noosa International Food & Wine Festival. The name change heralds a new focus on both Australian and International chefs and cooking identities as well as a global interest in the festival itself.

Expect four action-packed days from May 17 to May 20 in 2012 when two hundred of the world's most prominent chefs, winemakers, media and food personalities descend upon Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.


Noosa Food & Wine Festival 2011 from Source Media on Vimeo.

The final details of the full program are being locked in but it has been confirmed we can announce that molecular gastronomist and 'Demon Chef', Alvin Leung of Bo Innovation in Hong Kong and Davide Scabin of Combal Zero in Turin Italy will both participate in the Qantas 'Best Dinner in the World' event. Each course of the degustation meal will be created by a different chef from the prestigious S.Pellegrino World's Best Restaurant List. The list is created from The World's Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 800 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene.

Local restaurateur and Festival Director, Jim Berardo, is thrilled with the international focus of the 2012 festival. "We are proud to have built this event over eight years to something truly world class" says Mr Berardo. "The Festival originated to acknowledge and promote Australian produce, wine and talent. Now Australia has a real presence in the world of food and wine and we want to recognise this by including overseas talent. "

Watch this space as more International and Australian names for the festival are announced: http://www.facebook.com/NoosaFoodWineFestival

Or for further information on the Festival check out: www.noosafoodandwine.com.au

Key Sponsors:

Peregrine Soars to New Altitude

Media Release

A multi-award-winning Central Otago wine has taken its accolades to impressive new heights by winning a prestigious Northern Hemisphere trophy.

Less than a year after sweeping the board with the same wine in a Southern Hemisphere competition, the Peregrine Pinot Noir 2009 has been awarded the Bouchard Finlayson Trophy Pinot Noir in the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London.

Just under 12 months ago, the 2009 Pinot Noir won three trophies at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, receiving the JF Hillebrand New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Noir trophy, the Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine trophy and being hailed the Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show.

The double-hemisphere achievement has left Peregrine Wines’ Managing Director and co - owner Lindsay McLachlan extremely proud and humbled.

“Although we’ve been quietly confident all along with the standards of wines we produce, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would receive two fantastic accolades like this so early in our history,” he said.

“This is a unique achievement, the pinnacle to date for our winemakers, vineyard team and growers.

“We never thought we would deliver the best wine in New Zealand and one of the best in the world in our 13th year of operation.

“To have a wine recognised by hugely experienced judging panels at different ends of the world is truly unique. I’m not aware of a wine like this that has won to this standard in both hemispheres.”

The judging panel was full of praise for the wine. “When you taste a wine like this you understand the term ‘Peacock’s Tail’ in the way that the flavours display themselves across the tongue,” said the panel. “Sensuous, nervously controlled elegance are the hallmarks of this absolutely stunning wine. This rose effortlessly to its supreme gold mark with the panel.”

Mr McLachlan will be travelling to London next month to receive the trophy from IWSC President Prince Robert de Luxembourg at a presentation banquet at the Guildhall on November 16.

The banquet is a glittering five-course meal with matched wines and spirits, preceded by a pre- dinner tasting of Gold Medal winning products and attended by some of the biggest names in the global wine trade.

Mr McLachlan said Peregrine Wines prided itself on producing wines that truly represented the Central Otago winegrowing region.

“The Central Otago product is world-class and we have a long-term plan to craft wines that will continue to exceed consumer expectations and reward our many loyal supporters.”

For more information on Peregrine Wines go to www.peregrinewines.co.nz

Kiwi Winery Trumps International Awards

Media Release

Award-winning Kiwi winery Mud House continues to trump the competition overseas, with the 2011 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc winning prestigious accolades at the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).


Scooping both a Gold medal and Best in Class at the IWSC, the 2011 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was a standout success for the New Zealand winery, beating out entries from more than 82 countries worldwide.

Described as “delicious” and “a terrific example of a beautifully made wine” by the IWSC judging panel, the 2011 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc received high praise in its tasting notes.

“Zesty lifted nose of crushed bramble leaf, kiwi, cucumber and citrus. In the mouth mange tout flavours caress with a mild touch of red pepper and lime leaf,” furthered the enviable sentiments expressed by the judging panel in favour of the 2011 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

A highly regarded international competition, the IWSC was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Held in the United Kingdom, it aims to promote the quality and excellence of the best wines, spirits and liqueurs the world over.

This standard is achieved through a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and detailed technical analysis that takes place at the IWSC competition's headquarters in Surrey, United Kingdom. To ensure perfect conditions, the premises include temperature-controlled cellars, a fully equipped independent laboratory for technical analysis, and three dedicated tasting rooms.

The Competition is backed by a group of vice presidents made up of the most influential people in the trade and has the support of many of the world’s top wine and spirits producers.

Mud House Wines marketing manager Cathy Wansink says gaining an award in the IWSC is an outsanding achievement for the winery.

“The International Wine and Spirits Competition is a hugely celebrated competition and the Gold medal and Best in Class awarded to the 2011 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is testament to the passion, commitment and hard work demonstrated by our viticulturalists and talented winemakers every day,” says Wansink.

For more information, visit www.mudhouse.co.nz

Winsor's choice: Lock & Key 2011 Hilltops Riesling

Winsor Dobbin

If you love classic dry riesling but are on a tight budget, this is a name well worth remembering. From the Moppity vineyard outside Young in New South Wales, it is an absolute bargain at a recommended retail price of around $16 - more so given it can sometimes be found discounted to considerably less. It has lemon zest fragrance, oodles of lime and grapefruit character on the quite austere palate and delightfully zingy racy acidity on the finish. A pristine and appealing partner for oysters, pan-fried seafood or Thai cuisine. $15. www.moppity.com.au.

MEDICO’S COOL IDEA IS CAPEL VALE’S SUCCESS

Wc10Oct11

SNAP-up this WA beauty with pan-fried
baby snapper and baked eggplant.

David Ellis

WESTERN Australia's Capel Vale has come a long way since Perth medico, Dr Peter Pratten and his wife Elizabeth were the first to recognise the potential of the quiet banks of the Capel River for cool-climate viticulture, planting their first vineyards there back in 1974.

And an interesting new release from their still family-owned Capel Vale is a  Debut label 2010 Chardonnay that's made from fruit that's largely from vines that were first planted as Riesling and Gewurztraminer, and cut-back and grafted-over to Chardonnay in the late 1970s.

This buy-now, drink-now wine has lovely tropical pineapple aromas together with some peach, apple and melon, and on the palate displays plenty of fresh varietal citrus and stone-fruit characters.

Pay $18 and match it with pan-fried baby snapper served with baked eggplant, tomato and a sprinkling of basil.

DUCK confit an ideal partner with
this delightful Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.

ONE FOR LUNCH: VICTORIA's Yarra Valley maker Mandala Wines has released a more-ish Pinot Noir from the excellent 2010 vintage, after skipping a year in 2009 because of climatic problems that owner Charles Smedley did not want to see impact on the company's show-case reputation.

"The 2010 vintage was outstanding with warm and mild conditions allowing for a long and gentle growing season," he says. "And particularly good was rain that came at exactly the right time, negating the need for irrigation and thus expressing our cool climate sites to their very best."

Here's a Pinot Noir from vines that were both fruit- and shoot-thinned to lower yield and maximise flavour, and which is reflected in the beautifully forward ripe red-berry fruit on the palate. Pay $28 and embrace this one with duck confit or a cold charcuterie platter.

(NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )