It’s been a big few months for top Orange winemaker Will Rikard-Bell.
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He was chief steward of the Orange Wine Show for the second year in a row last October.
The first release of wine under his own label, Rikard Wines, followed in December.
Plans for his own winery on Old Canobolas Road have just been lodged with Cabonne Shire Council.
But to top it all off he has just been named as the sole Orange winemaker to make the Top 50 list of finalists for one of Australia’s funkier wine competitions, the Young Gun of Wine [YGOW].
The shortlist for the award, that features a cross between a gun and a wine bottle as its trophy, is dominated by winemakers from South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia and includes some major players.
Mr Rikard-Bell is just one of four nominees from NSW/ACT.
“It is the first time [to be selected], it is the first time I’ve entered,” he said.
He said he entered by submitting some of his wine for judging.
“It’s a year long process,” he said.
Mr Rikard-Bell said the next step was a dinner in Melbourne on May 12 where the Top 50 would be celebrated ahead of the list being culled to 12.
The trophy presentation will take place in Hobart on June 18.
He said there was a focus on fun in the event.
“They are trying to focus on a young demographic, more innovative,” he said.
“The cut-off is 40. I’ve got a few years, I’m 37.
“It’s a good fun crew.”
While his new label has just been launched Mr Rikard-Bell has been involved in Orange wine for some time.
“I’ve been making wine in the region for years, I first made wine in 2001,” he said.
YGOW founder Rory Kent said it was the award’s 12th year.
“Year by year we get a gauge on trends and where wine is heading, and we can clearly see the creative rise and rise of the industry,” he said.
“Such is the depth of talent now, from last year, over 60 per cent of winemakers are new to the Top 50 list, so that’s really exciting,” he said.
The judging panel spent two days assessing about 300 wines from the 150 winemakers who entered from across Australia.
“The Top 50 is not just a snapshot of great products from all grape growing corners of Australia, and the gamut of varieties, but also the intersection of ideas, philosophies and the individual trajectory of the winemakers involved,” he said.