The Australian Small Winemakers Show is held in Stanthorpe, southwest Queensland each year and is restricted to a crush maximum of 500 tonnes. Grampians Estate crushes 25-30 tonnes.
In his report on the wine show, the Chairman of Judges Jim Harre said, “I am delighted to present what is a stunning collection of awarded wines… In a world that increasingly seems to only reward large volume production, it is refreshing to find the opposite in a wine show that is also dedicated to excellence and craftsmanship.”
This year the wine show received 1033 entries from over 200 wineries across Australia. The Champion Small Winery Trophy is judged on a winery’s top three wines.
From eight entries, Grampians Estate was awarded four Gold Medals, they being for the 2017 Streeton Reserve Shiraz, the 2017 Grampians GST (top Gold), the 2017 Grampians Tempranillo (top Gold) and the 2017 Grampians Cabernet (top Gold). Where more than one Gold is awarded in a class, a taste-off is conducted to determine the top gold, which is then awarded extra points.
The Cabernet also won the Preben Jacobson Stewards Choice Trophy for the best gold medal wine of the show. Given it is the first time the winery has made a Cabernet, this award was very exciting.
Tom Guthrie: “It’s an amazing accolade. The long slow ripening period of the 2017 vintage always pointed to producing some above average aromatic wines and the results at this show proved just that.”
Pictured above: Graeme Reilly and Tom.