The 2021 Australian Highlands Wine show is set to celebrate some of Australia's most resilient winemakers from across the high altitude regions of Australia on October 11.
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Open to cool climate wines from all over Australia, made with grapes soured from above 500 metres in altitude, this wine show attracts producers from the NSW Southern Highlands, Orange, Mudgee, Tumbarumba, Canberra District and Adelaide Hills.
Despite the toughest of growing and operating conditions in recent times, more than 100 entries are anticipated this year, in pursuit of the coveted title of Australia's Best Wine With Altitude.
Now in its 11th year, the judging panel for the Australian Highlands Wine Show will be led by Toni Paterson MW, together with Rob Geddes MW, winemaker Aaron Mercer, wine writer Paul Diamond and sommelier Ashlyn Foster.
Toni said the wine show highlighted wines grown at higher altitudes, with the corresponding lower could look very different to wines grown at lower altitudes," she said.
"We will see intensely flavoured wines, diverse in style, which will keep the judging panel on our toes as we need to be very broad-minded when assessing quality.
"I expect the quality of this year's wines will be high and anticipate that there will be some surprises too. Discovering new labels is all part of the adventure of wine, and the Australian Highlands Wine Awards showcases quality producers that people may not have heard of before.
"I can honestly confess to being as excited as anyone else to see the results."
Rob Geddes shared the same excitement.
"It's truly a joy to judge the Australian Highlands Wine Awards and touch base with some of the most interesting viticultural climate zones in the country, in anticipation that with each year's awards, we see something different and exciting," he said.
"These awards play an important part in providing constructive feedback for winemakers, who often work in isolation, some distance from where their markets are, and building brand recognition over time.
I've personally grown very fond of the Highlands through my involvement, as Chairman or judge, over the past 21 years. It has been my pleasure to witness the evolution of local Pinot wines, especially Noir and Gris, as well as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon."
SHFWA industry Liason officer and show collaborator Katrina Hill-Cooper of Far Ago Hill Wines said cool climate wines had a distinctive elegance and delicate character.
"There's a wonderful vibrance and freshness to high altitude wines that the market really responds to," she said.
Prone to the perils of frost and hail, the upside for fruit grown at high altitudes is concentrated sunlight and cooler air. This gives rise to a longer ripening season which enhances freshness and gives flavours more time to develop.
Higher UV light at high altitudes further concentrates flavour compounds and produces higher but softer tannins. Overall, the range in temperature promotes ripening and flavour development during daylight hours, then acid retention through overnight lows.
The result is more intense aromas and complex flavours with a natural acidity that brightens and freshens the finished wine.
Entries to this year's awards close on August 22, 2021.
Judging will take place at The Loch in Berrima September 29 and 30, 2021 and the Awards presentation will take place on Friday October 12.
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