Geelong’s best wines now on show

This year’s edition of the Bay 93.9 Geelong Wine Show has been uncorked, and is again bringing together high quality producers from across the region to showcase the quality and diversity of their wines.

Judging for the show is under way, chaired by John Harris of Mitchell Harris Wines in Ballarat, alongside judges Simon Steele of Medhurst Wines in the Yarra Valley, and Matthew Brooke, director of wine at Crown Melbourne.

The show – which marks its 24th year in 2023 – is an important learning and development opportunity for the region’s winegrowers, with entrants provided with written feedback.

Geelong Wine Show chair and Oakdene Wines general manager Steven Paul said a key focus of the show was to continue to evolve to meet the needs of both exhibitors and consumers, and to celebrate the rich wine-making history of the Geelong region.

“The Geelong Wine Show aims to promote excellence in wine-growing in the region, broadly promote the wines of the region to the wine trade and wine-drinking public, and identify the best wines of the region each year, in addition to fostering links between sponsors and the wine industry.

“This year we have made changes to both entry requirements and show classes, which offers exhibitors more opportunities to win a trophy.

“We are also excited to welcome the judges to a new venue this year: The Davidson Restaurant at The Gordon.

“This will be a great opportunity to showcase the recent changes to the venue, and also engage with staff and hospitality students.”

Mr Harris said 2023 was his fourth year involved as a judge, and his second year as chair of judges.

“The climactically and geographically diverse sub-regions of the Geelong wine region make for fascinating judging, and it is a real thrill to taste the difference in the same varieties grown across the three.

“It is equally as interesting to see the strengths of the different varieties that many be better suited than other to each of these sub-regions.

“As always, we are hoping to see plenty of high quality and gold medal-winning wines.

“Despite the challenging growing conditions of 2023, we will hopefully see wines with great finesse and elegance, and we are looking forward to seeing wines with good fruit concentration and flavour intensity from the 2022 and 2021 vintages as well.”

Wine Geelong hosted a special public tasting on November 1 at The Davidson Restaurant, and the Geelong Wine Show will culminate with the annual Awards Dinner on Friday, November 17.

To be held at Terindah Estate on the Bellarine Peninsula, the dinner will be hosted by former Geelong Cats footballer Barry Stoneham and include a new addition to the Wine Geelong Hall of Fame Legends Honour Board.

For more information or buy tickets, head to geelongwineshow.com.au