MULTIPLE PRODUCERS PICK UP TROPHIES AT PENINSULA WINE SHOW

Left, back row: Barry and Sofi Kosic and Laurence Tedesco (Elgee Park), Peter Dillon (Handpicked Wines), Dan Prior (Montalto), Luke Lomax (Yabby Lake), Jamie McCall (Paringa Estate); front: Simon Black (Montalto), Matt Campbell (Crittenden Estate).

The 2022 Mornington Peninsula Wine Show might have returned to a more normal format after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, but it delivered exceptional results with an impressive share of awards going to multiple producers across the Peninsula.

The biggest surprise was the Best White Varietal or Blend trophy going to a 2022 riesling produced by Elgee Park in Dromana, and it was refreshing to see Paringa Estate’s 2021 The Paringa Chardonnay pick up a trophy for Best Chardonnay rather than Best Pinot Noir, which is more commonplace.

Chief judge Simon Steele said awards going to multiple producers was a great thing and suggested that different sites and sub-regions could shine with specific varieties or styles. “We had a great spread of results rather than a few wineries doing a clean sweep, which can often happen at regional shows,” Mr Steele said. “It means the Mornington Peninsula Wine Show is inclusive and relevant for all producers, which is what a regional show should be about.”

Mr Steele said although we often think about the Peninsula as the perfect home for pinot noir and chardonnay wines, we should also recognise certain vineyards in the region are world-class sites for cool-climate shiraz and other varieties too. “Mornington Peninsula sparkling and cooler vintage pinot gris and even riesling can be beautifully floral and expressive wines, which have been sourced from specific sites, carefully selected and crafted by talented producers.”

Elgee Park won Best Sparkling Wine as well as the Best White Varietal or Blend, and for the second year in a row Crittenden Estate won Best Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris. Yabby Lake also won Best Red Varietal or Blend for the second year in a row with the Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Shiraz.

The Chardonnay Provenance Award and Pinot Noir Provenance Award are two of the most prestigious trophies of the show due to the prominence of chardonnay and pinot noir as the signature varieties of the region. This year both trophies were awarded to Montalto for its 2015, 2017 and 2021 Montalto Chardonnay wines and 2012, 2017 and 2021 Montalto Pinot Noir wines.

“The Wines of Provenance classes showcased thought and detail in vineyard and winemaking techniques that were so impressive over time,” Mr Steele said. “(It’s) a credit to the hardworking teams at Montalto.”

Handpicked Wines continued its pinot noir winning streak after picking up the Best of Region Trophy at the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge in October. It won the Mornington Peninsula Best Pinot Noir Trophy for the 2021 Capella Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir.

The wine show lunch and trophy presentation at Merricks General Store was attended by more than 120 Peninsula wine producers. Mr Steele led a judging panel that also included Sarah Fagan, Steven Paul, Xavier Vigier and Matt Lugg.

The 2022 Mornington Peninsula Wine Show trophy winners were:

Best Sparkling Wine: 2018 Elgee Park Cuvee Brut Best Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris: 2022 Crittenden Peninsula Pinot Gris Best White Varietal or Blend: 2022 Elgee Park Riesling Best Chardonnay: 2021 Paringa Estate ‘The Paringa’ Chardonnay Best Red Varietal or Blend: 2021 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Shiraz Best Pinot Noir: 2021 Handpicked Wines Capella Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir Chardonnay Provenance Award: Montalto – 2015, 2017, 2021 Pinot Noir Provenance Award: Montalto – 2012, 2017, 2021 The full list of results is available online at www. morningtonpeninsulawine.com.au