Riesling Challenge Results a Reflection of Outstanding Vintages

The 17th Canberra International Riesling Challenge featured an outstanding collection of wines from eight countries with a record number of medals awarded. This is clearly a reflection of the outstanding 2015 and 2016 vintages in the Southern Hemisphere, coupled with a heightened professionalism and attention to detail by winemakers and viticulturists.

The Chair of the Canberra International Riesling Challenge (CIRC), Ken Helm said the increased appetite and awareness of consumers in quality Rieslings will be met with the release of these wines to the market.

“It is indeed an exciting time for Riesling across the world,” he said.

The 512 entries realised 85 Gold Medals, 112 Silver Medals and 168 Bronze Medals – a medal strike rate of 72%; this is up from 65% in 2015. Gold Medals represented 17% of entries – a record for the Challenge, but reflective of the extremely high standard of entries.

Chairman of Judges, John Belsham, an international winemaker of Foxes Island Wines NZ, businessman, consultant and critic with 35 years of wine industry experience said it is very pleasing to see winemakers taking advantage of outstanding vintages, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, and using their experience and skill to produce wines of the calibre seen in the 2016 Challenge.

The Best Wine of the 2016 Challenge is Ferngrove Wines from the Frankland River region in WA for their Ferngrove Off-Dry Riesling Limited Release 2016.

Seventeen wineries from the Canberra District entered 23 wines in the Challenge and of these, 12 wines received medals. This shows that the Canberra District is performing equal to any Riesling producing region in Australia.

The Mount Majura Vineyard Riesling 2016 from Mount Majura Vineyard was the overall winner of the ACT Chief Minister’s Trophy for Best Riesling from the Canberra District – the second time Mount Majura Vineyard has won this Trophy

Seven Judges from Australia, the USA and Germany led by the John Belsham, and three Associate Judges have critically assessed the wines over the last three days to find the best wines from eight countries across a number of styles. The competition was extremely high with little evidence of faults in the wines and the dominance of clean, well-made wines made the judges’ job of differentiating the best wines even more difficult. Due to the very high standard of entries, wines which would have been awarded in other shows may well have not have attracted a medal in this year’s Challenge.

Mr Helm acknowledged that the Challenge is continuing to grow through fantastic support from our sponsors, in particular our Foundation Sponsors and we look forward to their continuing support. “We are grateful that we continue to attract high calibre judges of international reputation who give their time unselfishly to this event,” he said.

Attached is a list of Award-winning wines. For full results listing see www.rieslingchallenge.com

Trophies and Awards

Best Wine of the 2016 Challenge
Canberra International Riesling Challenge Trophy

Ferngrove Wines – Ferngrove Off-Dry Riesling Limited Release 2016
(Class 2, Semi Dry, Frankland River, Australia)

Best in Australia
ACT Government and Hyatt Hotel Canberra Trophy
Ferngrove Wines – Ferngrove Off-Dry Riesling Limited Release 2016

(Class 2, Semi Dry, Frankland River, Australia)

Best Dry Riesling
Jim Murphy AM Perpetual Trophy

Bird in Hand – Bird in Hand Riesling 2016 (Class 1, Dry, Clare Valley, Australia)

Best Sweet Riesling
Australia Post Trophy

Weingut Georg Müller Stiftung – 2015 Hattenheimer Hassel Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese VDP.GROSSE LAGE
(Class 12, Sweet including Botrytis & Eiswein, Rheingau, Germany)

Best Australian Museum Class
ActewAGL Trophy

Robert Stein Winery – Robert Stein Riesling 2009 (Class 7, Dry, Museum, Mudgee, Australia)

Best Riesling from New Zealand
New Zealand High Commission Perpetual Trophy

Glover Family Vineyard – Zephyr Riesling 2014 (Class 4, Dry, Marlborough, New Zealand)

Best European Riesling
German Ambassador’s Perpetual Trophy

Weingut Georg Müller Stiftung – 2015 Hattenheimer Hassel Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese VDP.GROSSE LAGE (Class 12, Sweet including Botrytis & Eiswein, Rheingau, Germany)

Best American Riesling
USA Embassy Perpetual Trophy

Red Newt Cellars – Tango Oaks Vineyard Riesling 2013 (Class 13, Dry, Finger Lakes, USA)

Best from the Canberra District
ACT Chief Minister’s Trophy

Mount Majura Vineyard – Mount Majura Vineyard Riesling 2016
(Class 1, Dry, Canberra District, Australia)

Best Riesling from Tasmania
Tamar Valley Wine Route Trophy

Chartley Estate, Chartley Estate Riesling 2016 (Class 1, Dry, Tasmania, Australia)

Encouragement Award for up and coming Australian Riesling Winemakers
Shaw Vineyard Estate

Tom Barry, Jim Barry Wines

Wolf Blass AM Award – Wolf Blass Foundation

Awarded biannually for a person or organisation in Australia or New Zealand who has made a major contribution to Riesling development and promotion
Dr Jane Hunter CNZM, OBE, PhD (Hon)