Orange labels show quality, not quantity, as 2014 wine show winds down

Judging the 260 wines, made from Orange-grown grapes, started on Tuesday and will finish today for the result to be announced at the wine show dinner to be held at Ross Hill Vineyard tomorrow night.

Ms Maddox said the judges had finished tasting Orange’s sparkling variety and could see there was some potential in the region. 

“They liked the riesling and the rose varieties,” she said. 

This year’s brew is judged by industry consultant Gary Baldwin, South Australian wine maker from McLaren Vale Emma Bekkers and chief judge and master of wine Toni Paterson. 

There were about 280 varieties of wine at last year’s show and the loss was due to the unseasonably wet conditions which produced a smaller yield but they taste better than before, Ms Maddox said. 

The wine show dinner marks the start of the Orange Wine Festival which will run from tomorrow to November 2.

Taste Orange marketing manager Charlotte Gundry said preliminary results would be available today. 

“It’s a very exciting time of year for the Orange wine region, it’s a significantly beneficial experience for producers ... and a great way to start the festival,” she said. 

This year one of the feature events of the Orange Wine Festival, the Orange Wine Show Tasting, will be held on Saturday, October 18 in the pavilion at Orange Showground from 5pm to 8pm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to taste all the wines which were entered in the wine show to judge for themselves.

Copies of the Orange Wine Festival program are available from the Orange Visitors Centre.

For more details, bookings and the full program, visit tasteorange.com.au.