| 38th Annual Wine Show 2007 | Wine Show |
| We have not yet received the
photo's from the wine show. Results can be downloaded here. |
|
The
breakdown of entries for 2007: In total there have been 230 medals awarded
this year, comprising:
|
|
Once again we had 17 experienced judges carefully view, sniff and taste your wines to provide thoughtfully considered results. We are thrilled that the Eltham Show is able to attract such high calibre judges (check out their credentials in this book) who mentor our Associate Judges (Guild members) and provide comments for amateur winemakers to assist them with their winemaking. This is the only wine show we know, which provides judges' comments and a printed results book the day after judging. We have also increased the number of classes judged in a consensus manner with the aim of further improving the consistency and quality of scoring.
In another initiative to improve winemaking and appreciation skills, this year we included three workshops at our public day – we hope you have enjoyed them and thank our workshop leaders for their generosity in sharing advice and winemaking gems!
While we’ve been experiencing drought conditions, not all wines are showing the impact. Some classes even showed smokey characteristics as a result of bushfires! The current vintage Sauvignon Blanc quality may have been a little lower because of access to quality grapes, but the Jo Ilian award was still tightly contested and certainly deserves the accolades. Next year’s Jo Ilian award is for a sparkling fruit wine – we can’t wait!! The year after will be rosé and if this year's rosés are indicative, the quality will be excellent.
The number of country wines is struggling to keep up (2 less this year), despite some of our most interesting wines and highest scores coming from that category. In fact, this is the first time we can remember a wine receiving the full 20 points - congratulations to Vinko Eterovic, one of the Guild's most prolific winemakers, for his Blueberry Fortified. The Guild remains committed to maintaining interest in the craft of country winemaking so feel free to ask questions of our members at the Guild stand. The biennial Frankston/Eltham challenge provided another award, compliments of our respective Members of Parliament. We enjoy the friendly rivalry between the two guilds, and it encourages winemaking.
Our show can’t happen without the financial and in kind support of our generous sponsors. While hundreds of volunteer hours from Guild members are necessary, costs such as hiring the halls from Friday night to Sunday are very challenging. Please help us maintain sponsor support by visiting their stands, their outlets and patronising their services.
If you are interested in what the Guild has achieved in the conduct of the show, do consider joining our friendly group of over 70 members from all over Melbourne and some from the country. Because of its strength, the Guild is able to source quality grapes, share equipment as well as learn from its monthly meetings on the last Friday of each month. It is also a very sociable mix of women and (mostly) men of all ages and nationalities!
John O'Callaghan
Wine Show Director