We go together

It was only a few weeks ago that the judging part of the Royal Melbourne Wine Show (RMWS) occurred over at Flemington. I was the youngest associate to join a group of wine industry folk who would spend four full days tasting and judging the huge selection of wines submitted for assessment. Fast forward three weeks later and the fruits of our labour have been publicly released with a series of trophy winners, namely the famous Jimmy Watson trophy going to Best’s Great Western Shiraz Bin 1 2011.

Days spent putting 150 wines in our mouths did not seem so bad when the camaraderie amongst the gang this year was a real joy. That includes the addition of the two international judges Jamie Goode (from the UK) and James Suckling (from the US, who I should mention lives in Tuscany). Hence the reason why Grease’s ‘We Go Together’ was running through my head as I wrote this. We all worked hard, but the results at the end of this post speak for themselves. We did good.

Here is a collection of dodgy Instagram-type photos of the ordinary times, the good times, and the shenanigans that we all got up to.

The judging table with moody lighting

Getting some hot tips from winemaker Matt Harrop, Shadowfax Wines

A gourmet plate of food available for the judges between wine tasting

Chairman’s Dinner wine menu at The Point, Albert Park

Another day, another set of glasses

Winemaker Adam Wadewitz becomes my panel chair for the day

Along with Matt Skinner, we find some stunners in the bracket

Wadda and I inspecting some thiol action in a class of Pinot Gris

Chairman David Bicknell gives the final assessment

Brief masterclass with Jamie Goode on natural wines before dinner

The judges dinner menu at the Melbourne Wine Room

Trophy judging

Philip Rich making some tough decisions in the trophy judging

Best Single Vineyard trophy judging

Associate judge Krystina skateboarding in the judging room. Photography by Nick Stock

2012 Major Trophy Winners

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for the Best Red Wine of the 2010 and 2011 Vintages
Best’s Great Western Shiraz Bin 1 2011
Best’s Great Western, Victoria

Victorian Trophy for Best Victorian Table Wine Presented by the Victorian Government
Best’s Great Western Shiraz Bin 1 2011
Best’s Great Western, Victoria

The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz in Show
Best’s Great Western Shiraz Bin 1 2011
Best’s Great Western, Victoria

The François De Castella Trophy for the Best Young White Wine
Leasingham Bin 7 Riesling 2012
Leasingham, South Australia

The Douglas Seabrook Single Vineyard Trophy
Pooley Coal River Pinot Noir 2011
Pooley Wines, Tasmania

The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified in Show
Baileys Vintage Fortified Red 2010
Baileys of Glenrowan, Victoria

TO READ THE FULL RESULTS CLICK HERE

Tags: Fun, judge, Judging, Wine, Wine Show