RECORD ENTRIES: Michael Walker, Justin Byrne, Jane Arnott and Charlotte Gundry unload some of the entries in this year’s Orange Wine Show.Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0912wine
IT is the white wines of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and sparkling wines that are expected to feature in this year’s Orange Wine Show.
Entries for the wine show closed on Tuesday, with the last of the entries expected to be delivered tomorrow, ahead of the judging on October 3 and 4.
This year 284 wines will be judged, up from 250 entries last year.
“We are expecting our chardonnays, sauvignon blancs and the cabernet classes to be strong,” Charlotte Gundry of Taste Orange said.
“And we are also expecting good results from our sparkling whites.
Justin Byrne said the 2010 and 2011 red wine varieties were expected outshine the 2012 vintage.
“Due to weather conditions we have no reds this year to speak of,” he said.
Mr Byrne said the last couple of years had been challenging for growers.
“We came out of very dry conditions into wet conditions and that definitely has had an impact,” he said.
This year, a two-day cold-climate shiraz symposium will be held as part of Orange Wine Week.
“It will be really interesting at the symposium to see how we are doing with our shiraz varieties,” Mr Byrne said.
Ms Gundry and Mr Byrne say Orange is already experiencing positive spin-offs from Taste Orange @ Sydney, held in Martin Place recently.
“I have spoken with about 15 people involved in the food and wine industry here in Orange who have had inquiries in the last couple of weeks,” Ms Gundry said.
“It has been fantastic and certainly an experience we are looking at repeating next year.
“I was there for two days and the buzz was incredible. People were on their mobile phones telling their friends to get down there.”
Orange residents and visitors will have the chance to taste the wine show’s winning wines at the 2012 Saint Martin Orange Wine Show Public Tasting on Friday October 19.
janice.harris@ruralpress.com