Big news just in – the winners of the Royal Queensland Wine Show have just been announced.  ‘So what’, I hear you say, ‘it’s just another wine show on the circuit, right?’ WRONG!  As the RQWS is the first show of the season – many believe it sets a benchmark for the rest of the year’s wine shows.

According to Chief Judge PJ Charteris, “It helps the consumer and industry know what to look out for and try – what’s on trend and worthy of medals at the show.”

“The Margaret River and the Hunter Valley, who produced the Stodart Trophy and Grand Champion Wine of Show respectively – they are big awards and are reflective of how strong those regions are.

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“The key is varietal and style definition expressed in a contemporary way.  That’s not necessarily a regional thing, it’s the quality of the fruit and the skill of the winemaker to let the variety fully express itself.”

So what was the Courier-Mail Grand Champion Wine of the show?  If you think it was a Semillon from the Hunter – think again.  It was in fact a Hunter Valley Chardonnay! Well done to the gang who produced the First Creek Wines Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay 2014.  The Stodart Trophy Best Young Red Of Show was awarded to the Houghton Bandit Shiraz 2014.  Both wines are yet to be released – so make sure you immediately contact the cellar door and put your hand up for a case!  Tell them the Wine Wankers sent you!!

Following are the 2015 Trophy Winners. For the full results catalogue CLICK HERE

TROPHY AWARDS

THE MALDWYN AND IAN DAVIES BEST SPARKLING OF SHOW

Heemskerk Wines – Heemskerk Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sparkling 2010

THE BRISBANE CLUB BEST RIESLING OF SHOW

Orlando Wines – St Helga Eden Valley Riesling 2015

BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC OF SHOW

Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd – Rosemount Diamond Label Sauvignon Blanc 2014

BEST SEMILLON OF SHOW

Mount Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Lovedale 2009

THE AO FLEMING BEST CHARDONNAY OF SHOW

First Creek Wines – Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay 2014

BEST PINOT GRIS OF SHOW

Hungerford Hill Wines – Hungerford Hill Classic Pinot Gris 2014

BEST OTHER SINGLE WHITE VARIETAL OF SHOW

Topper’s Mountain Wines – Topper’s Mountain barrel ferment Gewurztraminer 2014

BEST OTHER WHITE BLEND OF SHOW

Levantine Hill – The Coldstream Guard ‘Albus’ 2014

BEST SWEET WHITE OF SHOW

Lillypilly Estate Wines – Noble Blend 2011

BEST YOUNG WHITE OF SHOW

First Creek Wines – Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay 2014

BEST MATURE WHITE OF SHOW

Mount Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Lovedale 2009

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WHITE OF SHOW

Mount Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Lovedale 2009

RNA BEST WHITE OF SHOW

First Creek Wines – Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay 2014

BEST ROSE OF SHOW

Robert Oatley Vineyards – Wild Oats Sangiovese Rose 2014

BEST PINOT NOIR OF SHOW

Yabby Lake – Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

BEST GRENACHE & RHONE STYLE RED OF SHOW

Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd – Rosemount Estate GSM 2013

THE ALAN COOK MBE TROPHY BEST BORDEAUX BLEND OF SHOW

Brookland Valley – Estate Cabernet Merlot 2012

THE WINE GUILD OF AUSTRALIA INC (QUEENSLAND) BEST SHIRAZ/CABERNET BLEND OF SHOW

W Salter & Son – Pepperjack Shiraz Cabernet 2013

THE JOHN CHANDLER MEMORIAL BEST OTHER SINGLE VARIETAL RED OF SHOW

Golden Grove Estate – Golden Grove Estate Joven Tempranillo 2014

ACCOR BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON OF SHOW

Dandelion Vineyards – Dandelion Vineyards Pride of the Fleurieu Peninsula Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

THE BRISBANE CLUB BEST SHIRAZ OF SHOW

Houghton – Bandit Shiraz 2014

BEST OTHER RED BLEND OF SHOW

Houghton – Red Classic 2013

BEST MATURE RED OF SHOW

Brookland Valley – Estate Cabernet Merlot 2012

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD RED OF SHOW

Yabby Lake – Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

RNA BEST RED OF SHOW

Houghton – Bandit Shiraz 2014

BEST FORTIFIED MUSCAT OR WHITE OF SHOW

Baileys of Glenrowan – Baileys Winemakers Selection Rare Muscat NV

BEST FORTIFIED RED OF SHOW

Hardys – Rare Show Tawny

BEST BRANDY OF SHOW

St Agnes Distillery – St Agnes XO

BEST QUEENSLAND WINE OF SHOW

Golden Grove Estate – Golden Grove Estate Joven Tempranillo 2014

THE JOHN G MARCHANT MEMORIAL MOST SUCCESSFUL QUEENSLAND EXHIBITOR OF SHOW

Symphony Hill Wines

THE DAN O’CONNOR TROPHY MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR OF SHOW

Wolf Blass Wines

THE STODART TROPHY BEST YOUNG RED OF SHOW

Houghton – Bandit Shiraz 2014

THE COURIER-MAIL GRAND CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW TROPHY

First Creek Wines Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay 2014