There are big changes afoot at Poachers Pantry, the Canberra region's most well known and loved smokehouse and vineyard. There's a new wine label, Poachers Vineyard, proudly launching a line-up of estate grown wines, under the Poachers umbrella.
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"Just as our family has come of age, so have our wines, and we are releasing the latest vintage made exclusively from our organically managed vineyard that wraps around the hills close to the restaurant," said Poachers Vineyard's second-generation vigneron, Will Bruce.
"Wines under the Poachers Vineyard label include two new varietals, a riesling that has just been awarded a gold medal by Winewise, and a tempranillo."
In total there are six wines in the new range including a sauvignon blanc, rose, pinot noir and syrah.
The move is part of a total branding overhaul at Poachers, which was established near Hall on Canberra's outskirts back in 1991, as the brainchild of founder, Susan Bruce. Susan, who is Will's mother, is tremendously proud of how the family business has grown, and now sees three generations of the Bruce family living and working at the family farm near Hall. Poachers Smokehouse Restaurant showcases the family's artisan smoked meats, and estate grown wines, and is an outstanding country wedding and event destination.
"The new Poachers branding will roll out across all our smoked products over the coming month providing a smart and more contemporary look, along with being more environmentally conscious," continued Will.
Wine show news
Wine show season has kicked into gear and, what with all the Good Food Guide Awards shenanigans of recent weeks, we've been somewhat distracted. Time to play catch up.
A 2018 syrah from Sholto Wines was named champion wine at the Canberra and Region Wine Show on September 28 after picking up the Dr Edgar Reik Trophy for Best Canberra District shiraz and Best shiraz.
We liked the description winemaker Jake Carter gives it on his website, sholtowines.com.au: "Yep ... I know another Canberra district shiraz... but let's be honest it's hard to beat it here. My mother says this is a wine you can sit in front of the fire, with a good book and a box of chocolates and devour both in one sitting because not finishing is just rude."
Looks like the judges agreed with mum.
Other winners included: Wine of provenance, Mount Majura Vineyard riesling; Best chardonnay, Collector 2017 Tiger chardonnay; Best dry white other varieties and/or blends, Mada Wines 2019 blanc traminer; Best dry white, Nick O'Leary 2019 Heywood riesling; Best dry red other varieties and/or blends, Moppity Vineyards 2018 grenache shiraz; Most successful exhibitors, Moppity Vineyards and Mount Majura Vineyard; The Chairman's Trophy, Barton Estate 2018 sangiovese; Best Canberra District riesling, Nick O'Leary 2019 Heywood riesling; Best rose, Mada Wines 2019 rose nebbiolo.
On September 25, the gold medal wines of the 2019 NSW Wine Awards were announced with four Canberra District wines being recognised: Collector's 2018 Marked Tree Red Shiraz, Four Winds Vineyard 2018 Shiraz, Lerida Estate 2018 Cullerin Syrah, and Nick O'Leary Wines 2018 Heywood Shiraz.
On October 18 the trophy winners will be announced at a special luncheon.
At the Australian Cool Climate Wine Show in mid-September Shaw Vineyard Estate 2017 Shiraz won Best shiraz of show and McKellar Ridge Shiraz Viognier won Best shiraz viognier of show.
Other shows coming up include the Canberra International Riesling Challenge from October 14-19. In its 20th year, the challenge has received entries from Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United States of America and all regions of Australia.
The National Wine Show starts the judging process on November 12, with winners announced on November 22.
In other wine news Sam Leyshon, from Mallaluka Wines, was named dux of the 44th Advanced Wine Assessment Course held by The Australian Wine Research Institute in mid September. He accepted a judging position at the Canberra Region Wine Show as part of the win.
"I participated in the course to learn more about the Australian wine show judging format, to test my palate by tasting a diverse array of wines and to see how others perceive those wines," he said.
"I feel this course has actually led me to understand the value and importance of wine show judging - I look forward to being a part of wine show judging across the country."
Karen Hardy
Email: karen.hardy@canberratimes.com.au
Email: karen.hardy@canberratimes.com.au
