Granite Belt wines win most gongs
GRANITE Belt wines and winemakers were one award away from a clean sweep at the Queensland Wine Awards held at Southbank on Wednesday night.
Ballandean Estate won Champion Alternative Variety White Wine and Champion Wine under $20 for its 2012 Viognier. Yesterday Ballandean Estate owners gathered at Rupert's to celebrate their triumph and announce a new partnership between the two groups.
Sam and Ray Costanzo of Golden Grove Estate lived up to the name, winning Queensland Viticulturist of the Year, Queensland Winemaker of the Year, Queensland Winery of the Year and Champion Alternative Wine variety for their 2010 Durif.
"It is an honour to receive such recognition for the work my entire family puts into our vineyard and our winemaking," said Mr Costanzo.
"We are now producing at an unprecedented level of consistency and quality; it is time for Queensland wine lovers, restaurateurs and sommeliers to recognise the calibre of wine produced by supporting the Queensland wine industry."
Other Queensland winemakers shared the sentiment and success, with Jester Hill receiving the trophy for both Champion Mainstream Red and Champion Wine of the Show with their 2010 Touchstone Shiraz.
The only award to slip past the grasp of a Granite Belt winery was for Queensland Cellar Door of the Year, which went to Ocean View Estates.
