Photographed after completion of the three-day wine testing were: Sam Kurtz – Chief Winemaker, Chateau Tanunda, Barossa Valley, Chris Pfeiffer – Managing Partner, Pfeiffer Wines, Rutherglen, Tyson Bitter – Chief Fortified Winemaker, Penfolds, Barossa Valley, Shannon Burgess Moore – Chief Winemaker, Tamburlaine, Hunter Valley and Jen Pfeiffer – Winemaker, Pfeiffer Wines, Rutherglen.
Rutherglen’s 2024 prestigious wine show and Australian Fortified Show last week attracted over 1,000 wine entries which pleased organisers.
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“We had just over 1,000 entries – a few more than last year – which we were very pleased with because some other shows have been struggling in recent times,” wine show chairman Chris Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer Wines told The Free Press.
Judges sampling and assessing the wines at the 2024 Rutherglen Wine Show in the Rutherglen Showgrounds’ Henderson Pavilion.
“It was a good, happy show. It was a positive sign in our region trying to place a good focus on our fortified wine category – the spiritual home of fortified wines in Australia.”
New chair of judges Russell Cody from the McWilliams Group Griffith and three panels of three judges assessed the wines over the three days Monday to Wednesday, after a head start on the Sunday evening.
Mr Cody took over the chair’s job after Andrew Santarossa’s three-year chair term expired. Russell started his winemaking career in 1989, joined the celebrated McWilliam’s team in 1995 and is one of the most respected wine experts in the industry.
Russell’s clear philosophy is ‘great wines are made in the vineyard’ and places strong emphasis on good vineyard management practices, and to sourcing the most appropriate, high-quality fruit available. This philosophy marries with Russell’s continuing passion for the Australian wine industry.
It was a high standard of judges at the Rutherglen Showgrounds and Rutherglen is considered popular for judges.
“It’s an educational event for judges as well,” Mr Pfeiffer said. “It’s important that shows have good judges otherwise the judging takes too long. It’s important that training and education continues to ensure the high standard of judging.”
This year’s Presentation Dinner will be on Thursday, September 26 at the Tuileries Function Room, De Bortoli Wines. Attendees can anticipate an intimate atmosphere while enjoying gourmet cuisine and world-class wines as the trophy winners for 2024 are announced.
The public is invited the next night, Friday, September 27 to the Henderson Pavilion for a wonderful tasting night.
For those keen to savour the winning wines and indulge in gourmet canapes, the Rutherglen Wine Show Public Tasting will have hundreds of wines from the 2024 entrants from which to choose.
Both will be big nights according to Mr Pfeiffer. “With the public invited for our wine tasting night on the Friday, we are getting more people from down south,” he said.
“Whether or not it’s the state declared public holiday because of the pre AFL grand final day, we welcome them and any other community members.”
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