THE Victorian Wine Show is an annual event celebrating the finest wines produced across Victoria’s diverse wine regions, with a Mansfield drop taking out gold in the sweet white wines class and securing the coveted trophy for Best Other Table White.
Awarded to Delatite Wines for their 2024 late harvest riesling, achieving a score of 95, expert judges Sarah Fagan, Matt Harrop, Genevieve Mann, Alicia Noble and Steward VWS commended the wine for its "citrus drive" with "fresh acid" and "lovely elderflower aromatics".
Judges' notes also make mention of the "green guava skin phenolics" which "tighten the palate".
All in all the class showcased a variety of "nice diverse styles" with the "top wines showing nice fragrance and acid balance".
"Over the years our Estate Rieslings have won a lot of medals and trophies, and we’re delighted to see the latest release pick up another one," said Delatite Wines managing director David Ritchie.
"It is a testament to Andy Browning and our vineyard team.
"There were a lot of beautiful wines entered, and we were honoured to pick up the gong for Best Other White Wine.
"It was made a bit more special this year as my mother Vivienne was on the Victorian Wine Show Committee for years (and director for four or five) in its early days.”
Vivienne Ritchie passed away in July earlier this year.
Along with the accolade, winners gain prestigious industry recognition and valuable exposure within the wine community, with the trophy for Best Other Table White only one of four awarded on the night in the best white wine classes.
Taking out the trophy, the late harvest riesling beat out a strong line-up that included pinot gris and grigios, Italian, Iberian and Rhone varieties as well as other white blends, and of course the sweet whites.
"The way trophies are judged is that at the end of judging all wine classes all of the judges come together to taste the top pointed wines from the eligible classes for each trophy," said David
"So the riesling was up against a lot of very good wines of different styles and varieties.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have received this honour."