On October 15, McLaren Vale in South Australia will play host to the James Halliday Grenache Challenge. 

Coordinated in conjunction with the 2017 McLaren Vale Wine Show, Grenache samples are sought from producers Australia-wide with entries officially opening Monday, August 21 and closing on Friday, September 15.

Judging will take place on Sunday, October 15 with Mr Halliday attending a community dinner celebration in McLaren Vale to mark the occasion. The official trophy winner will be announced via a video release Friday, November 3.

McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association General Manager, Jennifer Lynch recognises great synergy in hosting the inaugural event.

“As the home of some of the oldest bush vine Grenache in Australia, McLaren Vale produces some of the world’s best Grenache wines so it is entirely fitting for our region to host the Challenge and to continue to foster national and international recognition of this deserving varietal,” said Ms Lynch.

2017 McLaren Vale Wine Show Co-Chair and Faux Pas Wines winemaker, Liam Van Pelt is eager to showcase the diversity of Grenache winemaking styles from all over Australia.

“The James Halliday Grenache Challenge gathers varietal Grenache wines from around Australia for a competitive tasting to celebrate the variety and provides an honest gauge of Australia’s winemaking form, catching the styles and movements developing across our landscape,” said Mr Van Pelt.

Mr Halliday has long-praised Australian Grenache. and the recently released 2018 Halliday Wine Companion is no exception with more than 150 Grenache wines rated 90 points or above.

Photo: Julian Phong

“Grenache is undergoing a resurgence, driven by two recent trends: provenance and a shift towards lighter wine styles. There’s no greater way to tell the Grenache story than in wines from vines that have been producing grapes for 50 to 100 or 150 years in the Barossa and McLaren Vale. Its past is now defining its present. Where power and intensity are the hallmarks in these regions, Grenache’s soft tannins and perfume provide an elegant counterpoint,” Halliday Wine Companion, May 2017 – issue 34.

For more information and for entry terms and conditions, please visit https://mclarenvale.info/JHGC