Published Friday, 02 July, 2010 at 02:54 PM
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
WINERIES CELEBRATE ROYAL QUEENSLAND WINE SHOW AWARDS
Corks were popping at the RNA Showgrounds yesterday as the Queensland wine industry celebrated the Royal Queensland Wine Show.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the Royal Queensland Wine Show, held annually as a precursor to the Ekka, was one of Australia’s oldest, most prestigious and highly contested wine shows.
“The Show is a significant event for the wine industry as it is the first national wine show held for the year and allows producers to reveal their new season’s vintage,” Mr Mulherin said.
“For Queensland producers it provides an important opportunity for their wines to be judged against those from around Australia and overseas.”
Mr Mulherin congratulated Queensland winners including Granite Belt winery Symphony Hill Wines for taking home the award for Queensland exhibitor gaining the greatest number of points at the national event.
”Symphony Hill produced an exceptional Bolivian Shiraz 2008 which helped them secure the award for most points by a Queensland winery,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Symphony Hill which faced tough competition from other outstanding wineries from around the state.”
Minister Mulherin also congratulated Ballandean Estate Wines, also from the Granite Belt, and wine industry expert Dr Bill Ryan on their successes at the event.
“Ballandean Estate Wines won the Corrigan and Scudamore-Smith Trophy for best gold medal winning Queensland wine made and produced in Queensland for their Gen 3 Shiraz 2007.
“Dr Ryan was awarded the Queensland Wine Press Club Trophy for the most significant contribution by an individual to Queensland’s wine industry.
“Dr Ryan is an orthopaedic surgeon who co-owns Summit Estate winery just north of Stanthorpe. He chaired the Queensland Pinot Club for many years and is a specialist educator at Brisbane’s Wine Emporium.”
Mr Mulherin added the show attracted thousands of entries from hundreds of wineries across Australia and New Zealand, where 12 judges and four associate judges considered the condition and colour, bouquet and flavour of each entry.
“Wine is a priority sector for the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, which awards a trophy to the Queensland winery that gains the most points throughout the competition,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Sponsorship of the Royal Queensland Wine Show contributes to the State Government’s commitment to develop a sustainable wine industry in Queensland.”
Mr Mulherin added the Queensland Government’s Wine Industry Action Plan 2009 - 2011 aimed to increase awareness and sales of Queensland wine and enhance skills development across the state’s wine industry.
“The plan focuses on industry growth, new infrastructure and new business partnerships between the tourism, food and hospitality industries.
“To enhance Queensland winemaking expertise, the State Government arranged for a Queensland Winemakers Workshop to be held following the judging process at the Show this year.
“This allowed the national judges to discuss the winning attributes of selected Show wines with Queensland winemakers to increase industry awareness of desirable styles for Queensland conditions,” he said.
General public wishing to sample medal winning wines may attend a tasting event at the RNA Showgrounds on Saturday 3 July. For more information about the Royal Queensland Wine Show including a full list of winners visit www.rna.org.au
To find out more about the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Food and Wine Industry Development unit visit www.wine.industry.qld.gov.au
Media: 32396530
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the Royal Queensland Wine Show, held annually as a precursor to the Ekka, was one of Australia’s oldest, most prestigious and highly contested wine shows.
“The Show is a significant event for the wine industry as it is the first national wine show held for the year and allows producers to reveal their new season’s vintage,” Mr Mulherin said.
“For Queensland producers it provides an important opportunity for their wines to be judged against those from around Australia and overseas.”
Mr Mulherin congratulated Queensland winners including Granite Belt winery Symphony Hill Wines for taking home the award for Queensland exhibitor gaining the greatest number of points at the national event.
”Symphony Hill produced an exceptional Bolivian Shiraz 2008 which helped them secure the award for most points by a Queensland winery,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Symphony Hill which faced tough competition from other outstanding wineries from around the state.”
Minister Mulherin also congratulated Ballandean Estate Wines, also from the Granite Belt, and wine industry expert Dr Bill Ryan on their successes at the event.
“Ballandean Estate Wines won the Corrigan and Scudamore-Smith Trophy for best gold medal winning Queensland wine made and produced in Queensland for their Gen 3 Shiraz 2007.
“Dr Ryan was awarded the Queensland Wine Press Club Trophy for the most significant contribution by an individual to Queensland’s wine industry.
“Dr Ryan is an orthopaedic surgeon who co-owns Summit Estate winery just north of Stanthorpe. He chaired the Queensland Pinot Club for many years and is a specialist educator at Brisbane’s Wine Emporium.”
Mr Mulherin added the show attracted thousands of entries from hundreds of wineries across Australia and New Zealand, where 12 judges and four associate judges considered the condition and colour, bouquet and flavour of each entry.
“Wine is a priority sector for the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, which awards a trophy to the Queensland winery that gains the most points throughout the competition,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Sponsorship of the Royal Queensland Wine Show contributes to the State Government’s commitment to develop a sustainable wine industry in Queensland.”
Mr Mulherin added the Queensland Government’s Wine Industry Action Plan 2009 - 2011 aimed to increase awareness and sales of Queensland wine and enhance skills development across the state’s wine industry.
“The plan focuses on industry growth, new infrastructure and new business partnerships between the tourism, food and hospitality industries.
“To enhance Queensland winemaking expertise, the State Government arranged for a Queensland Winemakers Workshop to be held following the judging process at the Show this year.
“This allowed the national judges to discuss the winning attributes of selected Show wines with Queensland winemakers to increase industry awareness of desirable styles for Queensland conditions,” he said.
General public wishing to sample medal winning wines may attend a tasting event at the RNA Showgrounds on Saturday 3 July. For more information about the Royal Queensland Wine Show including a full list of winners visit www.rna.org.au
To find out more about the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Food and Wine Industry Development unit visit www.wine.industry.qld.gov.au
Media: 32396530