September 9, 2016
South Burnett wineries more than doubled their 2015 medal count at this year’s Queensland Wine Awards.
The awards, now in their 33rd year, are run by the Queensland Wine Industry Association.
They are only open to wines produced in Queensland, but are judged by interstate wine experts from established wine regions such as the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
The Awards presentation dinner was held at Brisbane’s Hotel Grand Chancellor on Wednesday night.
A total of 197 wines were entered in this year’s competition, spread across 18 judging classes.
The largest was the Shiraz class (28 entries) and the smallest was the Rose/Fruity Red class (3 entries).
Chief judge, Clare Valley winemaker David O’Leary, said he was impressed with the range and diversity of styles put up for judging this year, particularly in the alternative variety classes.
South Burnett wineries Clovely Estate, Moffatdale Ridge, Dusty Hill, Kingsley Grove and Tipperary Estate all took part in this year’s competition, and were rewarded with two trophies, a gold medal, three silvers and nine bronzes.
Last year, the region won two trophies along with a gold medal, a silver and four bronzes.
Clovely Estate – the region’s biggest wine producer – repeated its 2015 feat of winning two of the six major trophies on offer.
This year Clovely won the Mainstream Variety White Wine for its 2013 Semillon, and the Outstanding Wine of Provenance for its 2010, 2013 and 2014 Semillions.
The company also took a gold medal for its 2013 Semillon, along with two silver medals for its 2010 Semillon and 2014 Cordon Cut Semillon, plus two bronze medals for its 2013 Petit Verdot and 2013 Fortified Grenache.
Moffatdale Ridge repeated last year’s silver medal win for its 2015 Verdelho by winning silver for its 2016 Verdelho, along with a bronze for its 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon.
And Dusty Hill Wines won six bronzes for their 2016 Semillon, 2014 Forbidden Shiraz, 2015 Gra Fion Shiraz Viognier, 2015 Gra Fion Nebbiolo, 2015 Pesudovs Nebbiolo and 2015 Botrytis Verdelho.
South Burnett Wine Industry president Jason Kinsella said the region should be very proud of the results achieved by local winemakers.
“The Queensland Wine Awards are our state’s top wine competition and attract the best wines Queensland has to offer each year,” he said.
“Any wine that walks away with a medal has been subjected to the highest level of scrutiny, because the judges are grading Queensland wines against the best wines Australia can produce.
“That means a win at this level could be repeated at any other wine competition in Australia.”
The complete 2016 Queensland Wine Awards results can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here.
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2016 Queensland Wine Awards Winners
- Clovely Estate 2013 Semillon – Champion Mainstream Variety White Wine Trophy and Gold medal
- Clovely Estate Left Field Semillon 2010, 2013 and 2014: Outstanding Wine of Provenance Trophy
- Moffatdale Ridge 2016 Verdelho – Silver medal
- Clovely Estate 2014 Cordon Cut Semillon – Silver medal
- Clovely Estate 2010 Semillon – Silver medal
- Clovely Estate 2013 Petit Verdot – Bronze medal
- Clovely Estate 2013 Fortified Grenache – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2016 Semillon – Bronze medal
- Moffatdale Ridge 2013 Naked Cabernet Sauvignon – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2014 Forbidden Shiraz – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2015 Gra Fion Shiraz Viognier – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2015 Gra Fion Nebbiolo – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2015 Pesudovs Nebbiolo – Bronze medal
- Dusty Hill 2015 Botrytis Verdelho – Bronze medal
- Related article: Clovely Wins Big At State Wine Awards (2015 Awards)
