The Sydney International Wine Competition will go ahead this year, with the judging schedule moved back by a month, a reduced judging panel, as well as entries restricted to a maximum of 1300.
This is the 41st year of the competition, and is the only international wine show judging finalists in combination with food “to ensure medal-winning wines are both technically excellent and relevant for consumers”.
The entry window will be open from 27 July to 26 October and was pushed back by a month due to increased logistical issues associated with COVID-19, with judging to take place in mid-November.
Sydney International Wine Competition co-convenor Brett Ling said it was important to continue with the competition to showcase too consumers the range of food-friendly wines available to be enjoyed at home and restaurants.
“While usually we can anticipate entries from ten to twelve of the leading wine-producing countries, this year we expect most of the entries to come from Australia and New Zealand, but as ever we will welcome entries from further afield if they can navigate the challenging freight issues,” said Ling.
“Our judging panel this year will be made up largely of judges from Australia, but we are also hoping for representation from New Zealand, which is traditionally a powerhouse in the competition. We can only hope the ‘bubble’ is floating by the time judging takes place in November.
“Because of the nature of the competition and its emphasis on wines being both technically excellent and food-appropriate, wineries are anxious to see the return of the competition as restaurants progressively open-up and highly-value wines that are proven to be food-friendly.”
There will be 11 judges on the panel who will conduct tastings over a week. The top 400 wines will be set aside for re-judging with appropriate food, where 250 wines will be awarded Top 100, Blue Gold and Gold medals, as well as 25 trophies.
There are no minimum production requirements and the show is “particularly applicable to experimental and small makers to test their wines alongside wines from major producers”.
The tasting of the medal and trophy winning wines is scheduled to be held in Sydney in February 2021.
For more information and to enter, click here.
