This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Limestone Coast Wine Show, which recognised the region’s finest wines with a celebratory dinner at The Barn recently.

Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council executive officer Ulrich Grey-Smith said it was good to hold the dinner again after it was cancelled in 2020.

“It’s an event that brings the whole Limestone Coast wine industry together,” Mr Grey-Smith said.

“It was fun to see the trophies awarded to very deserving wines and deserving people across the Limestone Coast.” 

Wines were judged at Rymill Hall in Penola and many local wineries were successful. Wrattonbully’s Eight at the Gate wines was runner-up for best of show in addition to its 2019 Family Selection Chardonnay, which won the Colin Kidd Trophy for best white wine of Show and the Pam Dunsford Trophy for best chardonnay.

DiGiorgio Family Wines received an impressive three trophies including the Karl Seppelt Trophy for best white for its 2021 Kongorong Riesling, its Dolcetto Rose was crowned the best rosé and its 2018 Botrytis Semillon was declared the best sweet wine. 

Wynn’s Coonawarra and Majella Wines were deemed stand-outs again, with Wynn’s 2018 Johnsons Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon declared best individual vineyard wine and its 2016 O’Deas Single Vineyard Dry Red winning best blended red.

Majella Wines was acknowledged as most successful exhibitor and was awarded the Ewen Fergusson McBain Trophy for best museum wine.

Coonawarra’s Nightfall Wines Aquila Cabernet Franc collected the small batch and experimental wines award, Padthaway Estate’s 2018 Eliza Blanc de Blancs won best sparking variety and the Wangolina 2021 A Series Mencia was declared the best alternative red variety.

Rymill Estate’s 2019 Classic Release Shiraz received the Eric Brand Trophy for best shiraz in show.

Rymill Estate winemaker Lewis White said the winning shiraz was considered to be an aromatic wine of elegant standard which was dark and fruity, really fresh and well balanced. 

Mr White said it was nice to have some good news after a difficult vintage in 2020 and the challenges with Chinese trade.

“It’s really good recognition of all the hard work that has gone into the winemaking here over the last few years,” he said.

“Overall, we’re really happy with our results from the wine show.”