Sustain Traders Oceania

By Madeline Cooper
Two Australian Certified Organic wines produced in the Barossa Valley have taken out top accolades at the 2010 Australian and New Zealand Organic Wine Show. Temple Bruer Wines received the highest accolade of the Australian and NZ organic wine industry, taking out Best Wine of Show and Best White Wine for their 2006, Temple Bruer Chenin Blanc. The trophy for Best Red Wine went to Kalleske Wines for their 2009 Kalleske Clarry’s GSm.
As the largest organic wine show of its kind in the region and the only annual wine show dedicated to certified organic wine, the show is considered to be the benchmark for organic wines in Australia and New Zealand.
Judged to national and international standards by a panel including Australia’s most widely-published wine writer, Max Allen, the show included a record number of entries in 2010. Of the 170 wines from 43 vineyards entered there were 4 gold medals, five silver and 63 bronze medals awarded.
Temple Bruer Wines Chief Winemaker David Bruer is overjoyed with receiving such a high calibre award and attributes it to their dedication to innovation and quality. Temple Bruer Wines have recently committed to becoming 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2012.
“The Aust/NZ Organic Wine show is an opportunity to showcase the quality and variety of organic wines currently available for consumers,” says David. “The wine show allows us to illustrate the direction Temple Bruer is taking in regards to wine style, innovation and sustainability.”

David says hard work also has a big part to play in the company’s success. Temple Bruer has won countless awards in the past, including a gold trophy at the Awards, but this is a first for the winery at the Aus/NZ awards.

“It is very exciting to receive the trophy as it recognises all the hard work that the team at Temple Bruer put into the vineyard and the winery. Taking out the top trophy speaks volumes for the Temple Bruer team.”
Kalleske Wine Chief Winemaker, and former Barossa Winemaker of the Year 2008, Troy Kalleske was equally enthusiastic about his winery’s award.
“To have our wine named Australia and New Zealand’s Best Organic Red wine is extremely pleasing to say the least. It is recognition that we’re doing the right thing with our vineyard and winemaking practices and it’s nice to see it recognised in this way,” says Troy.
“The competition is a great bench mark for our wines against other Australian and New Zealand producers. It is important for us to have our wines independently assessed and see how they compare.”
Kalleske Wines have also received a number of gold medals at the Awards in previous years including Best Wine of Show in 2007. Troy says they have witnessed a rise in the number of entrants since the awards started six years ago - a true reflection of the growth of the industry.
“The show is a great showcase of Australian and New Zealand organic wines and the growth of the show in recent years highlights the trend towards organic wine production, which of course is a great thing – the way it should be!”
Other medal winners include:
Gold
Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard, 2009, Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard Chardonnay
Tamburlaine Wines, 2009, 2009 Organic Syrah
Kalleske, 2009, Kalleske Clarry’s GSM (Best Red Wine)
Temple Bruer Wines, 2006, Temple Bruer Chenin Blanc (Best wine of Show, Best White Wine)
Silver
Tamburlaine Wines, 2010, 2010 Orange Riesling
Wild Fox Wines, 2010, Wild Fox Wines Rose
Battle of Bosworth, 2009, Battle of Bosworth Cabernet Sauvignon
Rosnay, 2008, Rosnay Cabernet Sauvignon
Settlers Ridge Organic Wines, 2007, Settlers Ridge Organic Wines Malbec Merlot
Lark Hill Winery, 2010, Lark Hill Auslese Riesling

This article was first published in Australian Certified Organic Magazine, Summer 11 edition, published by the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA). For further information regarding organics, visit www.bfa.com.au or contact the BFA, the voice of Australian organics, on ph 07 3350 5716; email info@bfa.com.au.