The spotlight is on quality NSW wines this week as judges gather in Forbes to consider entries in the 2024 NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show.
Twenty gold medals were awarded on day one of judging, with 13 judges from all over the State here to taste 585 wines from 99 wineries.
Chair of judges Mark Richardson, chief winemaker with Tyrrells in the Hunter Valley, said the 2023 and 2024 seasons had been "pretty solid" in NSW.
"We're seeing a lot of medals across the board I think," he said - and that's a reflection of the quality of the entries in this 32nd annual event.
"A gold medal is pretty hard to get but you can get three or four and if you get three or four in one class you've got a very strong class."
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This year's entries reveal the rise in the varieties of wines on offer, and more and more from the smaller wineries, Mr Richardson said.
"'Other' reds and 'other' whites that weren't your classics - there's definitely an increase in those across the board and not just in numbers but in quality as well," he said.
"So they've turned into quite exciting classes to judge. I think that reflects the market.
"There's still some great chardonnays, and here in NSW semillon's quite a big thing as well, but it's these other varieties that are becoming more interesting and more talked about."
Our team of judges has been drawn together from closer wine regions such as Mudgee, Orange and Canberra, as well as further afield.
"It's a great show for supporting NSW," Mr Richardson said.
"Everyone's very committed to getting the right result.
"It's a competition but it's more about finding the best wines shining on the day and all the team is on the same page."
The NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show is run by a team of local volunteers, and Mr Richardson acknowledged the work that goes in behind the scenes.
"It's not possible for us to stand there, drink some wines and throw some points around," he said, "if you don't have all these people running around cleaning, feeding us and organising all the classes."
The committee is very proud of the show, member Alistair Lunn said, and the opportunity to bring small winemakers' wines before judges.
He'd encourage locals to get their tickets to Friday's public tasting and - even better - the dinner on September 21.
"At the dinner you'll see 10 or more of the best wines NSW has to offer matched with food from Eat Your Greens," Mr Lunn said.
"It's a really good opportunity to listen to the winemakers and understand the effort and skill that goes into making some really fantastic wines.
"Take the opportunity because these wines are some of the best NSW has to offer."
The public tasting will be on Friday August 23 from 6.30pm at the Forbes Town Hall.
All the wines entered will be available for patrons to taste and finger food will be provided. Tickets are $30 per person.
The annual gourmet wine dinner will be held on Saturday September 21 from 7pm at the Forbes Town Hall. The dinner will be catered by Eat Your Greens and features trophy wining wines. Tickets are $130 per person.
At the moment, if you purchase both tickets in one transaction online you'll save $10.
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