By Kit Fennessy
Judging for the Gippsland Wine Show took place at the Cape Paterson Life Saving Club last month, with six local wineries in the running for awards.
Congratulations to Purple Hen, Phillip Island Winery, Silverwaters Winery, The Gurdies, Bass River and Dirty Three, which were all featured at the judging of Gippsland's best wines in 12 classes.
There were over 114 entries this year from 20 wineries across Gippsland - from as far apart as Phillip Island to Lakes Entrance (300 km).
"Gippsland excels in cool climate varietals like pinot noir, chardonnay, a cheeky little riesling and the odd surprisingly good sparkling wine,' international wine writer and Halliday Gippsland Region expert Jane Faulkner said.
Some of Australia's best wine tasters were on the judging panel. In addition to Jane Faulkner, there was the chair Sarah Fagan (Tarrawarra's chief wine maker), Julian Grounds (Stonier Wines,
Mornington Peninsular), Dom Kearton (Purple Hen, Phillip Island) and Frank Butera (from Bass River Winery).
Judging took over two days to complete.
Results will be revealed at the 2024 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show awards tasting and dinner on Thursday October 17 at Carrajung Estate, near Traralgon.
Earlybird tickets are available at:
www.trybooking.com/CURUY or via www.winegippsland.com
Tickets are also available for the bus running from Bass Coast to the venue and return.