About 43 per cent of wines entered into the NSW Small Winemakers Show were awarded with a medal, up 2.1% on last year.

Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz were the standout varieties at the show, which received 650 entries from 105 small producers that crush a maximum of 500 tonnes annually.

Hunter Valley winery Mistletoe took out the Clear Image Trophy for Best White Wine of Show and the Winetitles Trophy for Best Boutique White Wine of Show for its 2009 Reserve Semillon.

Stockmans Ridge, based in Orange, was also a standout, taking out the Vintec – Transtherm Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show and the Winetitles Trophy, Best Boutique Red Wine of Show for its 2009 Outlaw Shiraz.

Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines in the Hunter Valley chaired the show and was assisted by Mike De Iuliis (De Iuliis Wines), Deb Pearce (sommelier and wine writer), Bryan Martin (Ravensworth Wines), Mike Bennie (wine writer) and Sarah Crowe (Bimbadgen Wines).

Thomas says the show is important in promoting excellence in small wineries.

“These shows are important to the wine industry from a regional and small producer perspective. It allows small producers to benchmark their wines against the rest of the state without the presence of the larger producers, and can improve the chances of medal and trophy winners getting a foothold in restaurants and retailers,” Thomas said.

“We work very hard to preserve the integrity of the show by ensuring that a medal winning wine is well deserved and those wines would hold their own in any wine show in the country.”

The medal breakdown was 4.1% gold, 8.7% silver and 30.3% bronze.

Other trophy winners were: Lillipilly 2006 Noble Harvest (Riverina); Tertini 2008 Riesling (Southern Highlands); Coolangatta Estate 2011 Verdelho (Shoalhaven Coast); David Hook Wines 2011 Old Vines Pothana Vineyard Belford Semillon (Hunter Valley); Leogate Estate 2010 Early Release Chardonnay (Hunter Valley); Audrey Wilkinson 2009 Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley); Shaw Vineyard Estate 2009 Merlot (Canberra District); Windowrie Estate 2010 The Mill Cabernet Merlot (Cowra;) Angullong 2010 Bulls Roar Tempranillo (Orange); and Chalkers Crossing 2008 Hilltops Shiraz (Hilltops).  

A trophy presentation dinner will be on Saturday 10 September at Forbes Service and Memorial Club, Forbes.

For more information, visit: www.nswwineshow.com.au