The 2023 Sanector Wine Show of Western Australia’s week of judging culminated in the Trophy presentation gala event held at Retravision Stadium in Albany on Friday night, where the Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling wine earned the top honours as ‘Best Wine of Show’.
Capel Vale demonstrated their outstanding performance with wins across multiple categories, taking home trophies for Best Riesling, Best White Wine of the Great Southern, the highly sought after JS Gladstones Best & Most Distinctive Regional Character, Best White Wine and of course culminated in Best Wine of Show, all for the Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling.
This year the Wine Show of Western Australia included 35 classes, 24 trophies, and 686 wines from across Western Australia were entered with 653 reviewed. Of the 653 wines, 462 were awarded medals of which 72 were gold.
2023 Sanector Wine Show of Western Australia full results Best Wine of Show Trophy – sponsored by Sanector
Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling
Best Red Wine of Show Trophy – sponsored by Orora
Stella Bella Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Best White Wine of Show Trophy – sponsored by Winequip-Lallemand
Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling
Most Successful Exhibitor Overall Trophy – sponsored by My Vintner
Cherubino Wines
Most Successful Exhibitor processing under 250 tonnes Trophy – sponsored by Labelmakers Group of Companies
Castle Rock Estate
JS Gladstones Best and Most Distinctive Regional Character Trophy – sponsored by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling
Best Red Wine of the Great Southern Trophy – Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association
Plan B! Wines The Next Hundred Years 2022 Syrah
Best White Wine of the Great Southern Trophy – sponsored by Strike Point Graphic Design & Printing
Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling
Best Older Red Wine Trophy – sponsored by Smith Thornton Accountants
Fishbone Wines Joseph River Estate 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Other Red Varietal Trophy – sponsored by Oak Solutions Group
Evans & Tate 2022 Single Vineyard “Carter Road” Malbec
Neale Warneford Best Red Blend Trophy – sponsored by Dog Rock Chemist
Nikola Estate 2022 Gallery Series The Modernist
Ian Tyrer Best Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy – sponsored by Galafrey Wines and Mt Barker Wine Producers’ Association –
Stella Bella Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Best Shiraz Trophy – sponsored by Classic Oak
Credaro 1000 Crowns 2022 Shiraz
Best Pinot Noir Trophy – sponsored by Shire of Plantagenet
Shepherd’s Hut 2022 Michael Mayo Pinot Noir
Best Chardonnay Trophy – sponsored by Taransaud Tonnelier
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Chardonnay 2022
Best Riesling Trophy – sponsored by Mt Barker Cooperative
Capel Vale Whispering Hill 2023 Riesling
Pam McGregor Best Aged Riesling Trophy – sponsored by Plasdene Glass-Pak –
Oranje Tractor 2017 Riesling
Best Sauvignon Blanc Trophy – sponsored by Southern Haulage
Millbrook 2023 Regional Sauvignon Blanc
Best White Blend Trophy – sponsored by Multi-Color
Sitella Wines 2016 Museum Silk
Best Dry White Varietal Trophy – sponsored by Air Liquide
Torrent Wines 2019 La Famiglia Chenin Blanc
Best Rosé Trophy – sponsored by CTI Logistics
Millbrook 2023 Regional Rosé
Best Sparkling Trophy – sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn Albany
Sitella Wines 2017 Grand Vintage Blanc de Blancs
Best Fortified or Sweet Wine Trophy – sponsored by Fiori Coffee
Gralyn Estate NV Artizan Rare Muscat
Best Museum Wine Trophy – sponsored by The Sandalwood Shop
Castle Rock Estate 2008 Riesling
Chair of the Sanector Wine Show of Western Australia, Dr John Gates said “this year we were delighted to welcome Sanector back to the Wine Show of Western Australia as our major sponsor. We thank Sanector and all our trophy sponsors for their generous support”.
He continued “The quantity and quality of entrants from throughout Western Australia was impressive, the high calibre and engagement of our judges was the strongest ever, and the dedication from our many volunteers was invaluable and meritorious”.
Dr Gates adds,” over the last few years we have, like many of our participating wineries, experienced exciting highs and some more challenging moments across the winemaking landscapes of Western Australia. However, the outstanding quality of wines has remained consistent, as has the WA wine community’s support of our State-based wine show.”.
Andrew Spinaze, Wine Show Chair of Judges and Chief Winemaker, Tyrells Wines said “The 2023 WA Wine Show judging has just concluded with over 650 entries tasted by 16 judges. The show has run very smoothly, and we have assessed an amazing range of high-quality wines representing all WA wine regions”.
“I believe this year has a high percentage of medals awarded to wines showing great quality and regional character”’ he continues. “The highlight of the show without doubt has been the success of the Riesling classes showing the quality of what WA can do with this variety producing some of the best Riesling in the country. Chenin Blanc, such a unique variety to the WA regions was outstanding. As you would expect Cabernet Sauvignon also showed well but probably more impressive were the Shiraz from 2022 vintage of very high quality”.
The judging panels of expert wine judges was made up of;
Andrew Spinaze (Chair of Judges) – Tyrells Wines, Hunter Valley
Damian Hutton (Panel Chair) – Nikola Estate & Oakover Wines, Swan Valley Sarah Andrew (Panel Chair) – Consultant, Sommelier & Educator
Erin Larkin (Panel Chair) – Reviewer, Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Aus/NZ) Megan Kopke (Judge) – MoreVino, Geographe
Rob Mack (Judge) – Aphelion Wine Co, McLaren Vale
Sam Badger (Judge) – Woodlands, Margaret River Chris Murtha (Judge) – Castelli Estate, Denmark Genevieve Mann (Judge) – Corymbia Wine, Swan Valley Livia Maiorana (Judge) – South by Southwest Wines
The Wine Show Committee wish to thank the interstate judges, Andrew Spinaze, Sarah Andrew and Rob Mack for making the journey to Mt Barker and thank the panel chairs for their great leadership throughout the week. After six incredible years, Damian Hutton will complete his tenure as first a judge, then panel chair and Meg Kopke completes her third year as judge. We wish to thank both Damian and Meg for their contribution and leadership.
The Wine Show of Western Australia would not be possible without the very generous support of our partners, Sanector, Winequip – Lallemand, Orora, My Vintner, Taransaud Tonnelier, Labelmakers Group of Companies, Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association, Mt Barker Cooperative, Plasdene Glass- Pak, Southern Haulage Company, Multi-Color, Air Liquide, Shire of Plantagenet, Classic Oak, Galafrey Wines, Oak Solutions, Smith Thornton Accountants, Dog Rock Chemist, Strikepoint Graphic Design & Printing, Mt Barker Wine Producers’ Association, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, CTI Logistics, Hilton Garden Inn Albany, Fiori Coffee and the Sandalwood Shop.
All results from the 2023 Sanector Wine Show of Western Australia will be available https://wineshowwa.com.au
