Wine judge Brendan Heath of Stanton samples the wares at the Kiama Wine Show. Picture: DAVE TEASE
Coolangatta Estate has swept the field at this year's Kiama Wine Show, picking up a staggering 14 awards at last night's presentation.
The Shoalhaven-based winery won trophies for most successful exhibitor, best red (Coolangatta Estate 2009 tempranillo), best white (2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay), best Shoalhaven Coast wine (2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay), best wine current vintage (Coolangatta Estate 2012 verdelho) and eight of the 15 categories.
MORE: Experts judge best drop at Kiama Wine Show
Judging panel chairman Christian Gaffey praised Coolangatta Estate for its meticulous attention to detail.
"Greg Bishop [owner-vigneron] is obsessed with quality and refuses to settle for mediocrity, which is a real credit to him," he said.
The judging panel awarded seven gold, 15 silver and 28 bronze medals from the 100 wines they tasted in 15 categories.
Mr Gaffey praised winemakers from the Shoalhaven Coast, Southern Highlands and Goulburn during his three years as chairman of judges and said they had done a "pretty good job" this year considering they had experienced two very wet vintages in 2011 and 2012.
"We certainly haven't seen the level of wines with winemaking faults anywhere near as much. I expected this year to see a lot of wines with disease problems from the vineyard but we didn't and all we saw were wines that were a little light on but that's to be expected simply because of the wet vintages.
"Kiama is one of the only shows that gives winemakers the opportunity to meet with the judges and . . . they have been listening."
Mr Gaffey believes the Shoalhaven Coast shows great potential for the European varieties like tempranillo but advised anyone growing cabernet sauvignon in the Southern Highlands to pull it out and plant pinot noir and riesling.
THE WINNERS
Most Successful Exhibitor: Coolangatta Estate
Best Wine of Show: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay
Best White Wine of Show: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay
Best Red Wine of Show: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Tempranillo
Best Wine Shoalhaven Coast Wine Region: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay
Best Wine Southern Highlands Wine Region: Cuttaway Hill 2010 Pinot Noir
Sandy Halley Memorial Award for Best Wine Current Vintage: Coolangatta Estate 2012 Verdelho
Best Dry White Wine: Tertini Wines 2009 Riesling
Best White Wine – Chardonnay: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Alexander Berry Chardonnay
Best Dry White Wine – Semillon: Coolangatta Estate 2012 Verdelho
Best Dry White Wine – Sauvignon Blanc: SHW 2012 Oldbury Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Best Dry White Wine – Blend or Other Variety: Coolangatta Estate 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
Best Light Bodied Red: Two Figs Winery 2011 Rose
Best Dry Red Wine – Pinot Noir: Cuttaway Hill 2010 Pinot Noir
Best Dry Red Wine – Shiraz: Two Figs Winery 2011 Shiraz
Best Dry Red Wine – Cabernet Sauvignon: Coolangatta Estate 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Dry Red Wine – Chambourcin: Coolangatta Estate 2011 Chambourcin
Best Dry Red Wine – Blend or Other Variety: Coolangatta Estate 2009 Tempranillo
Best Sparkling Red or White Wine : Roselea Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Best Fortified Wine (Any Vintage): Coolangatta Estate 1998 Fortified Verdelho