Orange wineries have grabbed five gold medals at the NSW Wine Awards.
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Montoro Wines picked up two gold medals for its Pepper shiraz.
The 2013 and 2015 vintages of the fine red wine scored in separate categories.
The 2015 won gold in the young shiraz section while the 2013 won in the mature red section.
Another Montoro shiraz, the 2016 Artisan, won a silver medal in the young shiraz section.
After judging in Mudgee two weeks ago the list of the medal winners was announced on Tuesday night.
Rowlee Wines collected its first gold medal at this level with its 2016 chardonnay – just four years after the label started.
Angullong Wines’ 2016 Fossil Hill barbera won gold in the young and other red varieties section while a 2016 fume blanc sauvignon blanc from Highland Heritage Estate claimed a gold medal in the young sauvignon blanc category.
Montoro Wines vigneron Bob Derrick said he was delighted to pick up gold medals for different vintages of the wine.
He said the statewide awards were sought after by wineries.
“This is all of NSW, that’s the significance of it.”
Mr Derrick said the winery was working toward opening a cellar door in time for next month’s Orange Wine Festival.
“It depends on roadworks,” he said.
The unusual design is aimed at attracting business.
“We want the wow factor to be seen from the road.”
He said the new building was not likely to become an eatery or function area.
“It is a cellar door, where we go from there, I don’t know.
“It is a boutique winery making excellent wine for people who want access to them.”
Nicole Samodol of Rowlee Wines said they were delighted with their gold medal winning chardonnay.
“We’re a really relatively new label,” she said.
“It is probably the third or fourth chardonnay we’ve made.
“2016 was a great year and there was a lot of work that went on in our vineyards.
“Chardonnay is definitely having a bit of a resurgence.”
She said vigneron James Manny had created a great team at the boutique winery.
Orange regional wineries also claimed several silver and bronze medals.
The trophy winners will be announced in Sydney on October 27.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
