Macedon Ranges wineries are toasting to success at Heathcote Wine Show.
Hanging Rock Winery, Coliban Valley Wines and Mount Towrong Vineyard all received gold and one has come close to the coveted Heathcote Grand Terrior Trophy.
Hanging Rock Winery is the only local producer to have been a finalist for the highly prized award every year since its inception without winning, but this year’s call is one that split the judge’s right down the middle.
The Ellis family, who established the winery in 1983, say it is an honour to be recognised and they cannot be disappointed after emerging with double gold.
Hanging Rock Winery’s Heathcote Shiraz picked up gold across two categories: Museum Shiraz Wines and Young Shiraz Wines. The winery also won silver for its 2008 Heathcote Shiraz and bronze for its 2015 Heathcote Shiraz.
Chief winemaker Rob Ellis said the two gold-winning wines were “cool, fresh and vibrant”.
He described the 2012 Heathcote shiraz as “elegant” while the 2016 Heathcote shiraz was a “powerhouse wine” with intensity in flavour due to its dry season.
The 2016 shiraz may have proved popular with the judges but with just 180 cases produced it will be hard to get hold of as the vineyard had sold out before its release.
“Everyone is so excited about how amazing it is but we have nothing to give them. We have had to limit orders but we have kept some aside for cellar door sales,” said Ruth Ellis, sales and marketing manager.
Coliban Valley Wines was awarded gold for its 2018 dry rose and silver for its 2017 shiraz, while Mount Towrong Vineyard’s 2018 Negro Amaro won gold for Mediterranean Style Red Wines and Older Mediterranean Red Wines.
Mount Towrong was up against some strong contenders in a category judges dubbed “Heathcote’s second goldrush”.
The vineyard also took home bronze for its 2016 Vermentino.
Macedon Ranges’ wineries continued to impress with Burke and Wills Winery taking home eight medals.
The winery was awarded silver for its 2015 The Aristocrat Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec in the Cabernet Family Red Wines category.
It was also awarded silver for its 2016 Vat 1 Shiraz, 2015 Vat 2 Shiraz and 2013 Vat 2 Shiraz, and bronze for both its 2017 and 2018 Gewürztraminer, and achieved bronze in the Other Reds category.
Outside of the region, Heathcote Winery fared well, winning gold for its 2018 Mail Coach Viognier. It was awarded silver its 2014 Mail Coach Shiraz and 2016 Cravens Place Cabernet Sauvignon, and bronze for its 2016 Mail Coach Shiraz and 2017 Cravens Place Shiraz.
Trentham Estate Wines received bronze for its family reserve Heathcote 2015 Shiraz, and Harcourt Valley Wines bronze for both its Dr Livingstone 2018 Rose and 2016 GSM.
