Relaxing with a ‘cleansing beer’ after after a hard day of wine judging at Marysville Golf Club (from left back row) Chief Steward Phil Challen, Tony Titheridge, Kelly Healey, David Cowburn (front) Ed Carr, Karina Dambergs, Cate Looney, John Ellis and Tom Butera. Judges Dr Tony Jordan and Ian McKenzie absent from photo.
By Kath Gannaway
MARYSVILLE will play an important role for every winemaker who aspires to knock on the door of champagne according to wine judge John Ellis.
Mr Ellis was chairman of judges for the Marysville Sparkling Wine Show held at Marysville on Tuesday 25 November.
Speaking immediately after the judging, Mr Ellis said the high calibre of wines entered in the show has secured the show’s place as a serious event in the industry.
A total of 210 wines were entered, three times as many as the inaugural show last year.
“It’s a spectacular increase which reflects the really hard work of the committee, but also the high calibre panel of judges,” Mr Ellis said.
“The industry would have looked at that list and said this is a serious show.”
Mr Ellis described the Sparkling White Wine – Bottle Fermented class as ‘phenomenal’.
“There were 74 entries in that class, and we gave five gold medals,” he said citing South Australian winemaker Ed Carr as an authority.
“Ed is, without doubt, the most successful sparkling wine maker in the show circuit, and he said what a fantastic class. I totally agree with him,” he said.
Mr Ellis predicted a great future for the show, which he said had as its motivation a desire to bring people back to Marysville, but which would have many more benefits as it grows in reputation. “You have a team of people with a great lot of ideas and great initiative here, and it’s exciting to be part of their dream,” he said.
The awards were presented at the Cup Eve Dinner at the Black Spur Inn with the top award, judged Australia’s Best Sparkling Wine, going to the 2006 Brown Brothers ‘Patricia’ Pinot Noir Chardonnay.
