Lockdown or not, wine producers of New South Wales to submit their favourite wines to the annual ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards where winemaker Nick Spencer steps into the role of Chair of Judges for the first time.
Nick Spencer has assembled a panel of judges from across Australia and that remains the intention again this year, COVID and borders permitting. A winemaker himself. Mr Spencer has drafted panels with a strong mix of winemakers and judges with broader expertise such as sommeliers, wine writer and on-premise professionals.
Of his first year judging, Mr Spencer said: On his first year as Chair of Judges , Nick Spencer said “Having judged at the NSW Wine Awards for many years, it’s an honour to be granted the ultimate responsibility of the results as Chair of Judges. I am excited to have an incredible mix of experienced wine show judges and equally important, a very experienced crew of administrators and back-of-house staff helping us find the best wines in New South Wales”.
Mr Spencer holds a special place in his heart for the New South Wales winemaking regions of Gundagai and Tumbarumba. He was awarded the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 2009 and was a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar and a finalist in the Young Guns of Wine. That year, he also won the National Wineshow Trophy for Best Shiraz. In 2014 Nick was a finalist in the Gourmet Traveller Wine Winemaker of the Year awards. His wines are regularly recognised by James Halliday, most recently being noted as one of Halliday’s 2019 best new wineries for Gundagai’s Nick Spencer Wines.
Organisers are hopeful of being able to host the event as planned on Friday, 15 October at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. However, contingency plans are in place and the important judging process will take place under appropriately safe conditions.
President of the NSW Wine Industry Association, Mark Bourne said, “Whilst we are in challenging times, we are very determined to continue to showcase the quality and diversity of wines produced across our State’s 16 great wine regions and to celebrate the hard work of New South Wales’ wine producers and once again prove why New South Wales is Australia’s first state of wine!”
All New South Wales wineries are encouraged to enter their favourite wines for a chance to win bronze, silver or gold medals.
Trophies are awarded for best wines in class, including the ‘NSW Governor’s 2021 Best Wine in NSW’ to be presented by NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley AC QC.
Briar Ridge’s 2018 Dairy Hill Single Vineyard Semillon from the Hunter Valley was awarded the top award at last year’s awards and Sparkling Wine from Orange impressed judges with Printhie Wines taking home the trophy for Best Sparkling for the third year running.
It is the 26th year of the competition and entries close on Friday, 20 August. For further information, visit here.
