The 2023 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show

Wineries across Gippsland showcased their wines in the annual 2023 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show with an incredible medal haul of 41 medals, including 11 gold, awarded at the annual celebration held for 126 guests at Mewburn Park, Tinamba, on 12 October.

Bass Coast winery, Dirty Three Wines, of Inverloch, took home the Westpac Best Wine of Show, sponsored by Westpac, for the the Dirty Three 2022 All The Dirts Chardonnay, which also won Best Chardonnay class (96 points). Marcus Satchell, Lisa Sartori and the team at Dirty Three also picked up trophies for: Best Riesling with the 2023 Dirty Rizza Riesling and Best Red Wine of Provenance for the Dirty Three All The Dirts Pinot Noir 2022, 2019, 2018.

Marcus said this was also a celebration of the commitment and passion of all Gippsland winemakers, and said he was humbled and proud to be one of four trophy nominees up for the Best Wine of Show.

Frank Butera and Bass River Winery from Glen Forbes was one of the nominees, having received a trophy with top Gold and Best Sparkling (96) for the Bass River 2018 Sparkling Brut 1835.

The Most Successful Exhibitor trophy was awarded to Alistair and Catherine Hicks’ Blue Gables Vineyard in Central Gippsland, after picking up four of the Best in Class awards, including the trophy and top Gold (96) for the highly coveted Best Pinot Noir (96), with the Blue Gables 2022 Ashton Pinot Noir. Alistair, the Wine Gippsland President, shared the story of how he and Catherine started Blue Gables on a hillside on the family farm, and paid tribute to fellow members for the advice and support they have received over the years.

South Gippsland-based Mark Heath’s Gippsland Wine Company, at Loch, picked up two trophies: the Best White Wine of Provenance with the GWC Chardonnay 2021, 2019, 2016, and the Gippsland Wine Company 2022 Loch Chardonnay picked up a Gold in the Chardonnay Class (95) and won the Chair of Judges award.

The Exhibitor Tasting and Awards celebration was attended by 126 members, sponsors, regional stakeholders and wine enthusiasts at the historic Mewburn Park Homestead, in Tinamba, Central Gippsland.

Wine Gippsland was delighted to have Westpac return as the major naming rights sponsor for the show and Best Wine of Show. Guests included representatives and sponsors from Wellington Shire, Cardinia Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Bass Coast Shire, South Gippsland Shire and Baw Baw Shire, along with wine industry suppliers, regional businesses and other stakeholders involved in food and drink tourism.

We were honoured to have Wine Victoria Chair/Acting CEO Stephanie Duboudin and Chair of Judges Sarah Fagan attend the awards celebration. Sarah spoke of Gippsland’s increasingly strong reputation in the wine sector, as producing some excellent wines - particularly in the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling classes.

The Judging was held on on 2 October at Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club. Wine Gippsland again secured an independent and highly credentialled judging panel, led by Sarah Fagan of Tarrawarra, as Chair of Judges, with Tim Perrin (Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate) and Rohan Smith (Medhurst) as judges, and Kayleen Reynolds (Prince Wine Store) and Dominic Kearton (Purple Hen Winery) as associate judges.

Our experienced stewards included Moira Chalk (Chene Australasia) and Chloe Bruyns (Dan Murphy’s).

Our sincere thanks to all our sponsors, both of the awards and auction items, for their support which allows Wine Gippsland to continue its non-profit work as a member-driven regional association, aimed at developing the quality and profile of Gippsland wines and the region, and their role in developing food+drink experiences to attract visitors to the region.

Major awards:

Best Wine of Show (sponsor Westpac) - Dirty Three 2022 All The Dirts Chardonnay
Best Red Wine of Provenance (sponsor Brandt Australia) - Dirty Three Wines All the Dirts Pinot Noir 2022, 2019, 2018
Best White Wine of Provenance (sponsor Farmer’s Daughters) - Gippsland Wine Company Chardonnay 2021, 2019, 2016
Most Successful Exhibitor (sponsor Cardinia Shire) - Blue Gables Vineyard
Chair of Judges Award (sponsors Lakes Entrance Helicopters, MANSI on Raymond, Tinamba Hotel) - Gippsland Wine Company Loch Chardonnay 2022

Best in Class winners:

(Trophies were awarded to those who won their class with Gold/Top Gold, making them eligible to be judged for Best Wine of Show.)

Class 1: Best Sparkling (Trophy): Bass River Winery, Bass River 2018 Sparkling Brut 1835

Sponsor: Phillipsons Accounting Services

Class 2: Best Sauvignon Blanc: Purple Hen Winery, Purple Hen 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

Sponsor: Baw Baw Shire

Class 3 (A, B, C) Best Aromatic White (Trophy): Dirty Three Wines, 2023 “The Dirty Rizza” Riesling

Sponsor: Bass Coast Shire

Class 4: Best Chardonnay (Trophy): Dirty Three Wines, Dirty Three 2022 - All The Dirts Chardonnay

Sponsor: East Gippsland Shire

Class 5: Best Sweet White: Lightfoot Wines, NV Darkfoot

Sponsor: Monacellars

Class 6: Best Rosé: Blue Gables Vineyard, Blue Gables 2023 Rosé

Sponsor: Destination Gippsland

Class 7: Best Pinot Noir (Trophy): Blue Gables Vineyard, Blue Gables 2022 Ashton Pinot Noir

Sponsor: Wellington Shire

Class 8: Best Shiraz & Shiraz Dominant: Blue Gables Vineyard, 2022 Hanratty Hill Shiraz

Sponsor: Gippsland Funeral Services

Class 9: Best Cabernet Sauvignon Varieties & blends: Silverwaters Vineyard,
Silverwaters 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Sponsor: South Gippsland Shire

Class 10: Best Other Red Varieties & blends: Blue Gables Vineyard, Blue Gables 2021 Sangiovese

Sponsor: Maffra Cheese Company

Gippsland wineries and winemakers competed in 10 varietal classes, and the four Top Golds (Trophy) winners were then nominated for the ultimate Best Wine of Show.

All trophy and awards sponsors are listed in the results booklet and available through links below.

- More details available in the 2023 results booklet.

The Awards Ceremony is a keenly anticipated annual event bringing winemakers, producers, sponsors and wine enthusiasts together. We thank the Events team at Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club for looking after our judging in early October. We also thank Mewburn Park Homestead and Tinamba Hotel for a fantastic venue, food and service for the tasting and awards night. Below, are some of the images from awards and the earlier judging. More in the carousel below and booklet.

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.

The 2023 Westpac Gippsland Wine Show

Major awards:

Best in Class winners:

- More details available in the 2023 results booklet.

Video from the awards night: click here

Previous Gippsland Wine Show results