L-R Long serving judges Gary Baldwin and Jen Pfeiffer with Challenge directors Alister Purbrick and David Treager
With judging concluding for the 30th Great Australian Shiraz Challenge, judges and sponsors were thanked at a dinner at Fowles Winery in Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges.
The Great Australian Shiraz Challenge commenced in 1995 after Tahbilk’s Alister Purbrick, David Traeger and Mark Schultz ‘lamented earlier over a beer’ that Australian wine, and Shiraz as a variety, needed to be better known internationally.
At the dinner celebrating 30 consecutive years of the challenge, including during Covid, founder and key wine show supporter Alister Purbrick recalled that it was felt at the time that Australia needed to ‘own a variety or style internationally’ that the country made well, in many different styles, and from regions that spanned across the nation.
“You might say that Rhone Valley ‘owned’ Shiraz, but we concluded that Rhone reds were blends of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre, so this region could not lay claim to Shiraz as a varietal wine,” said Purbrick.
“We decided to promote Shiraz as a quintessential and unique Australian wine, and from there came the bare bones of an idea that eventually flowered into the concept of a specific wine show for current release Shiraz only.”
The Challenge has evolved over the years to stay relevant; beginning as a single trophy for the best current release Shiraz, it developed to recognise cool and warm climate regions and more elegant styles.
In 2016 state-based trophies were introduced, and later, competitions for wines over five years, best organic, and sparkling entries introduced.
Purbrick thanked his fellow director David Treager for ‘staying the course’ and working behind the scenes to ensure the Challenge remained relevant.
He thanked the sponsors Orora Glass, MCC Label Solutions, Leocatas Transport, Interpack, Filchem and Melbourne Royal, with a special shoutout to sponsor Winetitles Media.
“In particular, I would like to sincerely thank Winetitles, and Hartley Higgins, for their long term support as a sponsor which spans almost the entire history of this event…which is simply amazing,” said Purbrick.
“I would also like to thank our wine judges, past and present, for their generous and I might add, unpaid, support over the last 30 years and, in particular thank this years’ cohort: Jen Pfeiffer (chair) Shavaughn Wells, Sarah Andrew, Jeni Port, Steve Paul and Justin Purser.”
“I would like to make a special mention of Jeni Port, who also supported our Victorian based judging team during COVID in 2020 and 2021 but has judged at least 7 years before and after this.
“These judges unselfishly give the best part of a week of their time each year, and without their unpaid contribution, and financial support from our sponsors, the Challenge would never have got off the ground all those years ago.”
Purbrick also highlighted chief steward, Vivian Beaumont, for his commitment. Beaumont began in the role in 1995, and announced last week that he will retire and hand over the reins to his son Etienne for the 2025 edition of the Challenge.
Many industry greats have given their time to chair the judging of the Challenge, Purbrick said, noting the contributions of Brian Croser, James Halliday (who served as chair for a total 11 years), Gary Baldwin and Jen Pfeiffer.
“A sincere and heartfelt thank you for the time you have all so generously given to the Challenge and the experience, expertise and passion that you’ve brought to the table,” said Purbrick.
This year’s Shiraz Challenge results will be announced on Friday 2nd November.
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