{"id":559,"date":"2022-10-19T09:59:14","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T09:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/mtgambiertimes\/?p=559"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:04:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:04:29","slug":"judges-decide-top-drops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/mtgambiertimes\/news\/judges-decide-top-drops\/","title":{"rendered":"Judges decide top drops"},"content":{"rendered":"

Limestone Coast Wine Show in full swing this week<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judging for the 2022 Limestone Coast Wine Show began on Tuesday with the 21st anniversary event attracting some of the strongest numbers in history, with more than 475 wines set to be scrutinised by a stellar panel of judges from across Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Tasmania\u2019s Stargazer Wines chief Samantha Connew the 2007 International Red Winemaker of the Year, will return for her third year as Chief of Judges, picking up where she left off before the borders were closed during Covid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited about being back in the Limestone Coast and reconnecting with the community there after three years\u2019 absence,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to seeing what has been happening winemaking and grape growing-wise in that time, I\u2019m really looking forward to meeting a few judges that I haven\u2019t connected with before.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the 2021 show (award winners pictured above) was judged by an all-South Australian line-up, this year\u2019s event will also welcome wine experts from Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The show will also see the return of the International Judges Trophy following a COVID pause, with the New Zealand editor of Gourmet Traveller Wine Jane Skilton MW, scheduled to be aprt oft he 2022 show.<\/p>\n

Jane last attended the event in 2016, and enjoyed the opportunity to see the Limestone Coast\u2019s individual regions first-hand. She declared the 2014 Majella Shiraz her stand-out wine and a worthy trophy winner, and rates the Comt\u00e9 toasted sandwiches served with Champagne at the judges dinner, a Naracoorte Caves tour and being checked into her motel by the owner holding a wombat among other key highlights of her visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved my last time in the Limestone Coast. Regional wine shows are the best – an opportunity Judges decide top drops to see things close up, get under the skin of a place, see what makes it work,\u201d Jane said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wines were tremendous but the spirit of the place, the people – that\u2019s what I\u2019m looking forward to again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judging began Tuesday morning at Penola\u2019s Rymill Hall, with the winners set to be revealed at the highly anticipated trophy dinner on Thursday at the Robe Mechanics Institute.<\/p>\n

A limited number of dinner tickets are still available, with bus transport available from Naracoorte and Penola \u2013 visit https:\/\/limestonecoastwine.com.au\/wine-show\/<\/a><\/p>\n

KEY DATES:<\/strong><\/p>\n