Gold for Granite Belt wine

A SEVERNLEA winery has picked up a major award at James Halliday’s Chardonnay Challenge.
Ridgemill Estate winery won one of only 12 gold medals out of 530 entries in the 2013 challenge organised by the prominent Australian wine writer and critic.
Mr Halliday awarded the Ridgemill chardonnay 94 out of a possible 100 points and declared it five “glasses”, or five stars.
That puts the Ridgemill 2012 wine up there alongside chardonnays from major Australian companies like Penfolds, Seppelts and Tyrrell’s.
Winemaker Peter McGlashan said they are ecstatic at the win.
“We’re very proud to be flying the flag for the Granite Belt in this prestigious national wine competition,” he said.
The boutique Ridgemill winery was established in 1998.
Mr Halliday said chardonnay is the most exciting wine in Australia.
“It has always offered opportunities for winemakers in all climates, but over the last decade every aspect of growing the grape – especially when to pick – and of making the wine has come under the microscope,” he said.