Four Mudgee wineries have achieved five-star ratings in James Halliday’s bestselling Australian Wine Companion for 2017, two of which earned the book’s highest rating of five red stars.
VINTAGE FORM: Four Mudgee wineries have achieved five star ratings in James Halliday’s Wine Companion for 2017. Pictured are Jacob Stein (Robert Stein), Rob Merrick (Robert Oatley), Peter Logan and Lester Yang (Huntington).
Logan Wines and Huntington Estate have been rated five-star wineries.
Robert Oatley Vineyards’ and Robert Stein Vineyards’ red five-star rating signifies consistent excellence and five-star quality over the last two years.
It’s a very good reference tool because a lot of people follow it into the region because it has a very strong representation in it
Just 10 per cent of the wineries (282) listed in the 2017 companion received the top rating and 181 producers received a black five-star rating.
Robert Stein winemaker Jacob Stein said the area was well represented in the companion, which had a specific and dedicated audience.
“I think that it shows that the region is strong, with 12 wineries producing wine – and 18 producers in the book – to have four up there is pretty good,” he said.
“It gets wine-focused people to Mudgee: That’s where there’s a big benefit, we still get people rocking up with the 2015 and 2016 books.”
Peter Logan said that while four wineries received the five-star rating there’s a halo effect that will benefit others in the local area.
“It is important, a lot of people do use it as a reference, but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all and there are a lot of very good wineries that haven’t been rated as five stars who probably deserve that accolade,” he said.
“But it’s a very good reference tool because a lot of people follow it into the region because it has a very strong representation in it. People might come here for [the five-star wineries] but while they’re here they’re going to go elsewhere as well.”
He added that the listing is a strong selling point.
“It certainly helps with exports because overseas distributors see James Halliday as the word on Australian wineries, which makes it easier when you’ve got a rating in it,” he said.
The Mudgee region wines listed in James Halliday’s Wine Companion are; Bill Byron Wines; Bunnamagoo Estate; Charnwood Estate; De Beaurepaire Wines; di Lusso Estate; Ernest Schuetz Estate Wines; Gooree Park Wines; Heslop Wines; Huntington Estate; Logan Wines; Lowe Wines; Mansfield Wines; Quilty Wines; Robert Oatley Vineyards; Robert Stein Vineyard; Rosby; Vinifera and Yeates Wines.
Source: Mudgee Guardian, 15 Aug 2016
Link: http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/4097037/local-wineries-star-in-guide/
