The 34th Sydney International Wine Show proved that quality isn’t always reflected in the price tag with two Aldi wines retailing for under $10 punching well above their weight.
Aldi’s $4.99 Spanish Tempranillo, El Toro Macho and a $6.99 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Pond, from South East Australia were recognised by judges as consumer-friendly, quality dining wines.
In addition, the Aldi Tudor Central Victorian Shiraz 2013 (retailing for $12.99) won two trophies – the Mark De Havilland Memorial Trophy for Best Red Table Wine of Competition, and the Sydney International Wine Competition Perpetual Trophy For Best Lighter Bodied Dry Red Table Wine of Competition.
The ALDI Veuve Monsigny Champagne Premier Cru (retailing for $29.99) also rose above some stiff competition taking out the Lanson International Diffusion Perpetual Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine of Competition.
The 2015 Sydney International Wine Competition was judged by a panel of 14 international and Australian judges, with the final selection of wines judged alongside appropriate food dishes to ensure that the results reflected the way most consumers drink wine – with food.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines dominated their classes, with Marlborough’s St Clair Winery winning four trophies for its Sauvignon Blanc, semi-sweet Riesling, Shiraz and, as joint winner of the ‘Most Successful Winery of Competition’ trophy.
However, the NSW South Coast’s Coolangatta Estate produced the most decorated wine of this year’s competition with three trophies for its Estate Grown Semillon 2006, including the Joy Lake Memorial Championship Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Competition.
Riesling and Semillon wines were the stars of the Show, winning eight out of the 23 Trophies awarded, while cooler climate white wines from southern NSW and south-west of Western Australia also had a major impact in the white wine categories.
“Judging the wines that made it to the final rounds with food made a significant difference to the award winning wines because they are not just judged for technical correctness – that was done in the first phase – they are judged again for their harmony and balance, key to their ability to complement appropriate food dishes,” said Convenor of the Sydney International Wine Competition, Warren Mason.
The 2000 wines entered into the competition came from ten countries, predominantly from Australia and New Zealand, but also Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and USA, as well as emerging wine producing nations such as China, and Thailand.
STYLE CATEGORY TROPHY WINNERS 2015 COMPETITION
Lanson International Diffusion Perpetual Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine of Competition
- ALDI STORES CHAMPAGNE VEUVE MONSIGNY PREMIER CRU BRUT NV (FR)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Australian Sparkling Wine – Aperitif Style
- DEVIATION ROAD LOFTIA VINTAGE BRUT 2012 (SA)
John Ryan Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Aromatic Wine of Competition
- D’ARENBERG THE DRY DAM RIESLING 2008 (SA)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Semi Sweet White Wine of Competition
- MR RIGGS EIN RIESE RIESLING 2013 (SA)
Ernie Hunter Memorial Trophy for Best Lighter Bodied Dry White Table Wine of Competition
- COOLANGATTA ESTATE GROWN SEMILLON 2006 (NSW)
Schenker Australia Pty Ltd Perpetual Trophy for Best Medium Bodied Dry White Table Wine of Competition
- ALKOOMI SEMILLON WANDOO 2007 (WA)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Fuller Bodied Dry White Table Wine of Competition
- DOMAINE NATURALISTE ARTUS CHARDONNAY 2013 (WA)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Still Rose Wine of Competition
- LA PROVA AGLIANICO ROSATO 2014 (SA)
J F Hillebrand (New Zealand) Ltd Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Noir of Competition
- SILENI ESTATES, ESTATE SELECTION ‘THE PLATEAU’ PINOT NOIR 2013 (NZ)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Lighter Bodied Dry Red Table Wine of Competition
- ALDI STORES TUDOR SHIRAZ 2013 (Vic)
The Fesq & Company Perpetual Trophy for Best Medium Bodied Dry Red Table Wine of Competition
- WYNDHAM ESTATE BEST OF VINTAGE SHIRAZ 2009 (SA)
Kemeny’s Perpetual Trophy for Best Fuller Bodied Dry Red Table Wine of Competition
- LANGMEIL WINERY JACKAMAN’S CABERNET 2010 (SA)
Myra Lehmann Perpetual Trophy for Best Dessert Wine (Unfortified) of Competition
- SAINT CLAIR FAMILY ESTATE AWATERE VALLEY RESERVE NOBLE RIESLING 2013 (NZ)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Best Sparkling Red Wine of Competition
- DOMINIC VERSACE LIMITED RELEASE SPARKLING SHIRAZ 2005 (SA)
R L Buller & Son Perpetual Trophy for Best Fortified Wine of Competition
- MORRIS OLD PREMIUM RARE LIQUEUR TOPAQUE NV (Vic)
SPECIAL CATEGORY TROPHY WINNERS 2015 COMPETITION
Kemenys Perpetual Trophy for Best Value Dry White Table Wine of Competition
- YEALANDS ESTATE LAND MADE PINOT GRIS 2014 (NZ)
Kemenys Perpetual Trophy for Best Value Dry Red Table Wine of Competition
- THORN-CLARKE SANDPIPER SHIRAZ 2012 (SA)
The John Marris Perpetual Trophy for a Non-Australian Wine of Outstanding Quality (other than Best Wine of Competition/Runner up)
- SAINT CLAIR FAMILY ESTATE PIONEER BLOCK 17 PLATEAU SHIRAZ 2013
The Ted Radke Perpetual Trophy for Best Table Wine made from a Lesser Recognised Grape Variety. Joint Winners:
- MARIA TERESA NUNEZ VEGA BIOCA GODELLO 2013 (SPAIN); and
- CAVIT BOTTEGA VINAI TEROLDEGO ROTALIANO 2012 (ITALY)
The Wine Society (Australia) Perpetual Trophy for Most Successful Winery of Competition. Joint Winners:
- CELLARMASTERS (SA); and
- SAINT CLAIR FAMILY ESTATES (NZ)
MAJOR TROPHY WINNERS 2015 COMPETITION
The Wine Society (Australia) Perpetual Trophy for Best White Table Wine of Competition
- COOLANGATTA ESTATE, ESTATE GROWN SEMILLON 2006 (NSW)
Mark De Havilland Memorial Trophy for Best Red Table Wine of Competition
- ALDI STORES TUDOR SHIRAZ 2013 (Vic)
SIWC Perpetual Trophy for Runner up to Best Wine of Competition
- D’ARENBERG THE DRY DAM RIESLING 2008 (SA)
Joy Lake Memorial Championship Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Competition
- COOLANGATTA ESTATE, ESTATE GROWN SEMILLON 2006 (NSW)