The award for Best Canberra Region Shiraz is hotly contested. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The Canberra and Region Wine Show (CRWS) is celebrating their biggest year, with more entries than ever before. The show has seen 11 new wineries join the fold, showcasing the growth and resilience of the local wine industry. The show is also partnering with the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology to train up the next generation of wine show judges.
Chair of judges Shanteh Wale told Region that her goal at a regional wine show is to get a good sense of the place.
“I want to see the best expression of the Canberra region … and walk away understanding the landscape, vintage conditions and the people who make it tick,” she said.
“I’ve put together a judging team with a diverse array of palates. Wine is for everybody, so you want a broad range of experiences: sommeliers, winemakers, viticulturalists, and people in wine media.”
Shanteh began her wine career in hospitality, spending around seven years as a Sommelier at Quay Restaurant in Sydney before transitioning to wine writing, judging, podcasting and education.
Shanteh Wale is the Chair of Judges at the Canberra and Region Wine Show. Photo: Nicole McLeod Photography.
The two panels of five judges, along with four trainees, will assess 345 wines across a series of blind tastings over three days. A standardised 100-point scoring system is applied to wines across 22 classes, including white and red wines, rosé, sparkling, medium- or sweet-wine, and wines of provenance.
Once the judging is complete and the awards are presented, the public is invited to participate in an opening tasting session on Saturday, 15 November.
“I hope that people will get a lot of joy and pride out of the experience. I want them to have a great time and leave feeling really proud of the region,” Shanteh said.
“Canberra has been making world-class riesling, shiraz and sparkling wines for a long time. The conditions here are harsh, but it’s a great continental climate producing wines with longevity that are unlike anything else in the world.”
The tasting experience following the awards is open to the public, allowing locals to sample the best of the best. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The four trainee judges were chosen from applicants across the country, including Aodhan John Kirk from Clonakilla in the Canberra region. Their training includes tasting alongside a team of judges and then comparing their scores. Shanteh said the judges were impressed to see that the newcomers had chosen the same top scorers!
“The wine show system has a fair amount of mystique around it, but it’s the judging and quality checks from shows that have helped the wine industry to improve.”
“It can be difficult to get into wine judging, so part of this is to give new people the opportunity to see if it’s right for them.”
Becoming a wine judge requires a great palate, wine knowledge and the ability to communicate what you’re tasting. Shanteh describes judging as “a marathon”: you need to build up your ability to taste up to 20 wines in a day without fatiguing your palate.
Shanteh said the judges have been enjoying Canberra’s strong riesling and shiraz, but have also been impressed with alternative varieties. In particular, she noted that the Sangiovese is one of the strongest crops she’s seen in the country.
The Canberra and Region Wine Show is run by the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society (RNCAS), which is also responsible for The Royal Canberra Show. Wines from the Canberra District, Tumbarumba, Gundagai, Hilltops, the Southern Highlands and the Shoalhaven Coast are eligible for this show. Wines that receive a gold or silver medal at this event will also qualify for the prestigious National Wine Show of Australia.
Medal and trophy winners will be announced at a VIP event on Friday, 14 November, followed by a public tasting on Saturday, 15 November, from 3 to 6 pm. Limited tickets available online or at the door. Find out more about the Canberra and Region Wine Show.
