Top WA drops on luncheon menu

The 40th annual Wine Show of Western Australia next month will celebrate how far the show and the wine industry have come since 1978.

One of the earliest producers of wine in the Great Southern, Plantagenet Wines has been selected to host the first event, the Portavin Exhibitors’ Lunch, for the State judging on October 6.

Show committee chairwoman Joanne Bradbury said the judging of wines had gone from five classes to 40 classes last year.

“This year, the 40th celebration is particularly important in Mt Barker because their volunteers and community over the many years have supported the show and kept it in Mt Barker,” she said.

“The wine show was started to give the opportunity to producers to benchmark their wines against their colleagues.

“I think over that time, the show has grown with the development of the industry, so it has gone from 17 entries in 1978 up to almost 1000 last year.”

The Great Southern wine region is the only region that has gazetted sub-regions.

Ms Bradbury said riesling had been identified as the iconic variety in the Great Southern and this was a great opportunity to experience some of the best.

“What will happen at the lunch is Verity James will host — she is very passionate about food and wine,” she said.

“We will also have our international judge from Montreal, Michelle Bouffard, talking about her perceptions on WA wine.

“And we will have our chief judge, Ian Riggs, from the Hunter Valley, talking about his thoughts, having looked at the wines all week.”

The wine show consists of three events — the first being the Portavin Exhibitors’ Lunch at Plantagenet Wines at noon on Friday, October 6, for $60 a head, presenting an opportunity to mingle with winemakers and enthusiasts.

The two further events are in Perth — the Top 50 Tasting at Il Lido, in Cottesloe, on October 20 from 1pm, and the the Gala Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency on October 27.

Tickets to any of the three events are available at www.wineshowwa.com.au.