By Dominique Tassell
Granite Belt wines have been recognised for their quality at this year’s Australian Small Winemakers Show.
Hidden Creek Winery took out Champion Queensland White Wine of Show for their 2021 Viognier Class 18.
St Joseph’s School won the Champion School Produced Wine for their 2021 Riesling.
Hidden Creek Winery secured a number of accolades, including a bronze for their 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Verdelho, and 2020 Vermentino.
They also took out gold for their 2021 Viognier.
4382 Terroir was also notably mentioned, securing honours such as silver for their 2021 Fiano, and bronze for their 2021 Semillon, 2021 Arinto, and 2021 Fernao Pires.
Golden Grove Estate got bronze for their 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Crystals Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Vermentino, and 2021 Tranquillo Bianco Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc, White Muscat.
You can find the full list of accolades online.
Jim Ellway, ASWS Secretary, stated that “after a one year gap, the 2021 Australian Small Winemakers Show (ASWS) has been a resounding success despite COVID restrictions, and bushfires and drought in many wine-producing regions”.
He says the ASWS aims to showcase wines from smaller producers whose innovative practices lead the way in Australian wine production, introducing new styles to Australia along with climate change in mind.
“The ASWS Committee is very passionate about this show and strives to improve it each year.”
Ash Smith, ASWS Chief Steward, stated that “the Australian Small Winemakers Show is now recognised as one of the most prestigious wine shows for small wineries in Australia and New Zealand; held exclusively for producers crushing less than 500 tonnes”.
The Show was established in 1987.
“For me, being part of such a prominent national wine show is always a fantastic and very rewarding experience,” he said.
“It has been an interesting year of planning due to the disruption caused by COVID restrictions to interstate travel and, for the first time in the show’s recent history, adjudicated by a cohort of incredibly talented Queensland judges and associates headed by Andrew Corrigan MW.”
Ash said that “an incredibly strong lineup of wines was once again presented this year, with the Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet brackets being highly contested.”
