Cairns Wine Show, where local labels competed against some of Australia’s leading wineries
July 29, 2019
South Burnett wineries are toasting another successful vintage after walking away from this year’s Cairns Wine Show with a string of trophies and medals.
The 27-year-old Cairns Wine Show draws competitors from all over Australia and New Zealand and is a respected fixture on the national wine show calendar.
While little wine is grown in the Cairns region itself, the Show’s thrust is locating and promoting the best Australian wines for tourism operators to provide to their guests.
This year’s judging panel was led by Master Of Wine Andrew Corrigan – who is also a part owner of the Granite Belt’s Hidden Creek Winery – assisted by 12 other judges from around Australia.
Competing exhibitors included well-known national brands such as McWilliams, Tyrrells Vineyards, DeBortoli Wines, Chateau Yaldara and Cellarmaster Wines.
Moffatdale’s Clovely Estate won two of the 17 trophies on offer – one for Best Queensland White in Show and another for Wine of Provenance (for its 2003, 2009 and 2017 Semillon).
Clovely also won a silver medal in the Sparkling Wine category for its 2012 Estate Reserve Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay, and silver in the Dry Full-Bodied White Wines category for its 2018 South Burnett Terroir Barrel Fermented Semillon
Moffatdale Ridge won a silver medal in the White Wine category for its 2019 Verdelho; a bronze medal for its 2019 Viognier; and another bronze in the Full Bodied Red Wine category for its 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Nuova Scuola (Moffatdale) scored a bronze medal in the Full-Bodied Red Wine category for its 2017 Nebbiolo, and Kingsley Grove Estate (Kingaroy) picked up a bronze medal in the Fortified Wines category for its 2018 Fat Fox Shiraz.
South Burnett Wine Industry Association president Jason Kinsella said the awards were a tribute to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the region’s wine industry.
They also confirmed the region’s wines are the equal of wines produced anywhere in Australia.
“Not all our wineries take part in the Cairns Wine Show, but every winery that did this year walked away with at least one medal,” he said.
“Considering the depth, age and talent of the wineries they were competing against, I think this is an outstanding result for a wine region that’s only two decades old.
“It’s also something I hope our region can be really proud about.”
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