2021 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show and Awards
The 2021 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show comes to Bass Coast Shire
One of Wine Gippsland’s long-standing members, Rick Lacey of Purple Hen Wines, took out a show-first of five of the top six trophies and awards in the 2021 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show. We were excited to bring the 2021 Gippsland Wine Show to the Bass Coast and Phillip Island this year, making it a home victory for the Rhyll-based vineyard and winery.
The Judging was held on Monday 29 November 2021 at the stunning new Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club. Wine Gippsland again secured an independent and highly credentialled judging panel, led by Sarah Crowe of Yarra Yering, as Chair of Judges.
And the Exhibitor Tasting and Awards celebration the following week, on Wednesday 8 December 2021, was attended by 120 members, sponsors, and wine enthusiasts at Phillip Island Winery’s stunning new function venue, The Atrium.
Purple Hen Wines collected an unprecedented five of the major trophies and awards in the blind judging, winning:
Best Wine of Show (sponsor Westpac) - Purple Hen 2020 Shiraz
Best Red Wine of Show (sponsor Mercurey Australia) - Purple Hen 2020 Shiraz
Best White Wine of Show (sponsor Cardinia Shire) - Purple Hen 2020 Off Dry Riesling
Best Wines of Provenance (sponsor Farmer’s Daughters) - Pinot Noir, 2014, 2016, 2019
Most Successful Exhibitor (sponsor Bass Coast Shire) - Purple Hen Winery
East Gippsland’s Rob and Tom Lightfoot of Lightfoot & Sons won the Chair of Judges Trophy (sponsor East Gippsland Shire) with their Lightfoot Myrtle Point Vineyard 2021 Chardonnay.
Central Gippsland’s Alistair Hicks of Blue Gables Vineyard won the Stewards’ Trophy (sponsor Gippsland Lifestyle Magazine) with the Blue Gables 2019 Jesse Chardonnay.
All results, including silver and bronze medal awards, are included in the results booklet.
Gippsland wineries and winemakers competed in 10 varietal classes, the best of which was then considered for the major trophy awards, and the ultimate Best Wine of Show.
Wine Gippsland was delighted to have Westpac as the major naming rights sponsor for the show and Best Wine of Show. All trophy and awards sponsors are listed in the results booklet and available through links below.
The Awards Ceremony is a keenly anticipated annual event bringing winemakers, producers, sponsors and wine enthusiasts together. We thank Phillip Island Winery for hosting the event in their new function space, and Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club for a fantastic venue for judging. Below, are some of the images from awards and the earlier judging. More to come soon!
Please contact us on exec@winegippsland.com.au if you have any questions or would like more information about the Gippsland Wine Show and Awards.
Rick Lacey of Purple Hen Wines accepts the hand-blown glass decanter trophy for Best Wine of Show from Scott Guerin, representing lead sponsors, Westpac.
Tony Dawkins of Glenmaggie Wines accepts the award for Best Cabernet Sauvignon from Ken Fraser, representing South Gippsland Shire.
“The Chardonnay... that we’ve seen over the past three years is probably the bracket that has impressed and evolved the most.”
Rob and Tom Lightfoot of Lightfoot & Sons accept the Chair of Judges trophy for their Lightfoot Myrtle Point Vineyard 2021 Chardonnay, from East Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Mark Reeves.
Rick Lacey of Purple Hen Winery, Rhyll, with his haul of major trophies, including Best Wine of Show, Best White Wine of Show, Best Red Wine of Show, Best Wines of Provenance and Most Successful Exhibitor.
The wine judges panel was led by Sarah Crowe of Yarra Yering, and was held at Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club the week prior to the Awards ceremony. Sarah has won an unprecedented four national titles this year (2021-22), and has been judging the Gippsland Wine Show for the past three years.
“The size of the Gippsland wine region means that... you have a real diversity of styles...
”I think the future is strong for Gippsland.”
Rick Lacey of Purple Hen accepts the Best Red Wine of Show trophy and the Burgundian oak stave from Nadège Carson of Mercurey Australia.
“A real highlight was having the Wines of Provenance for the first time... Pinot Noirs were a standout...”
Hands up if you’re having fun!
Rick Lacey accepts the award for Best White Wine of Show from Andrew Pomeroy of Cardinia Shire Council.
Wine Gippsland Chair Alistair Hicks presents the award for Best Rose to Tom Lightfoot of Lightfoot and Sons.
Rick Lacey accepts the award for Most Successful Exhibitor from Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan.
Rick Lacey accepts the award for Best Shiraz from Caroline Rossetti of Gippsland Funeral Services.
Andrew Crouch of Farmer’s Daughters congratulates Rick Lacey on winning the Wines of Provenance trophy for his Purple Hen Pinot Noir vintages in 2014, 2016 and 2019.
At a wine judging, stewards pour each glass in the absence of the judges, according to the numbered sequence in each class. The judging panel does not see the wines being poured, as this is a true ‘blind judging’.
Medals are awarded according to whether they have met the standard for the award, not how they rate in comparison to the competition. This is how there can be more than one Bronze, Silver or Gold in a category.
Bronze = 85-89
Silver = 90-94
Gold = 95+