Mudgee’s winemakers are celebrating today after taking out a number of top awards at the Mudgee Wine Show – part of September’s Wine and Food Month.
Lowe Family Wine’s 2022 White Gold Chardonnay was named the Champion Wine of Show at the 2023 CCL show and dubbed the Most Outstanding White Wine of Show at Thursday’s annual Trophy Dinner, held at Blue Wren.
Winemaker Lisa Bray was named the Winemaker of the Year for the second year in a row, while Huntington Estate was awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor and Most Outstanding Red Wine for its 2021 Estate Shiraz.
Other major awards on the night went to Logan Wines’ Graeme Brown who was named Viticulturalist of the Year, Pete Logan, who was recognised as the 2023 industry hero and Yeates Wines’ Sarah Yates, who was named Mudgee Wine Young Achiever of the Year.
The 2023 CCL Mudgee Wine Show notched up an impressive 237 entries from 29 exhibitors across a range of white, red, sparkling and rose varietals.
Mudgee Wine Show chair Debbie Lauritz said it was fantastic to celebrate the wine show’s 51st year.
“A huge thanks to all the exhibitors for another well-supported and successful wine show,” she said.
“I’d also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support, including RSN Australia (Spiegelau Riedel), Orora Beverage, Plasdene Glass-Pak, Cudgegong Rural Supplies, McGrath Real Estate, and our major sponsor, CCL Clear Image Labels.”
This year, the wines were judged by Hunter Valley winemaker Xanthe Hatcher, award-winning sommelier Melissa Moore from Sydney’s Love Tilly Group and local winemaker Rob Black.
Two additional local associate judges – Ashton Hendriks from Gilbert Family Wine & ED.AN Wines, and Chris Jessop from Logan Wines & Jessop Wines – were also on the judging panel, offering an opportunity for local winemakers to gain experience in wine show judging.
2023 Wine Show trophy winners
- Champion Wine of Show: Lowe Family Wine White Gold Chardonnay
- Most Outstanding White Wine of Show: Lowe Family Wine Co 2022 White Gold Chardonnay
- Most Successful Exhibitor: Huntington Estate
- Most Outstanding Red Wine of Show: Huntington Estate 2021 Estate Shiraz
- Winemaker of the Year: Lisa Bray
- Viticulturalist of the Year: Graeme Brown of Logan Wines
- Stein Family Trophy for Best Riesling: Robert Stein 2019 Dry Riesling
- Bob Oatley Trophy for Best Chardonnay: Lowe Family Wine 2022 White Gold Chardonnay
- Best White Wine (Not Chardonnay or Semillion or Riesling): Craigmoor Amphitheatre 2023 Traminer
- Ian MacRae Trophy for Best Museum White Wine: Bunnamagoo Estate 2016 Riesling
- Most Outstanding Sweet Wine of Show: Vinifera 2022 Easter Semillon
- Best Rose of Show: Skimstone 2023 Sangiovese Rose
- Robert Stein Memorial Trophy for Best Shiraz: Huntington Estate 2021 Estate Shiraz
- Carlo Corino Trophy for Best Red Wine (Not Shiraz or Cabernet): Robert Stein 2022 Bluhen Montepulciano
- Best Mudgee Classic Blend of Show: Huntington Estate 2021 Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Best Museum Red Trophy: LMB Wines 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Most Outstanding Fortified Wine of Show: Huntington Estate 2018 Vintage Fortified Shiraz
- Most Outstanding Cellar Door: Heslop Wines
- Mudgee Wine Heroes & Icons Award: Pete Logan
- Mudgee Wine Young Achiever Award: Sarah Yeates
Source: Benjamin Palmer, 11 September 2023, Mudgee Guardian