Five southern hemisphere countries now vying for top slot

I’ve acted as selector and judge for the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge for the past eight years. It’s my favourite wine competition because we match the best wines from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to choose best of class and top country each year. The quality of the wines selected is spectacular. I say “selected” because it’s an “invitation only” entry process. Each year I choose my top seven or ten (depending on class size) New Zealand wines in the earnest hope that they will be good enough to beat Australia and South Africa (NZ won the last two competitions).

Now the competition has just got bigger and stronger. The addition of Chile and Argentina has expanded the competing countries to five. I look forward to tasting the cream of the crop from both countries and to seeing how the countries stack up against each other. Selectors and judges for the new competition are:

Huon Hooke (Australia)

Michael Fridjhon (South Africa)

Bob Campbell (New Zealand)

Fabrico Portelli (Argentina)

Eduardo Brethauer (Chile)

The compeition, which includes 100 wines from each country, will be judged in Sydney on 10-12th August with the results announced a few weeks after that. For more information see http://www.boutiquewines.com.au/

This year was my sixth as selector and judge at the Tri Nations Wine Challenge, a wine competition that compares the best from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. A judge from each country chooses the best seven or ten wines (depending on the class) in 13 different categories. They are then tasted blind by class to decide the class and country winners (see later post).

This is the most satisfying wine competition I’ve been involved in because we only review superb wines and we traditionally dine at Tetsuya’s restaurant in Sydney – an unforgettable culinary experience. It also offers a useful view of New Zealand wines when compared with Australian and South African while providing a chance to taste whatever’s hot in those two countries.

I’m not allowed to reveal the results until early November (an indecent amount of time) but offer these general observations based on my involvement over the past six years.

• Australia is a formidable force. Don’t be blinded by the country’s vast commercial wine production – Australia makes many of the world’s best wines
• NZ often surprises in classes where our chances of success are low and disappoints where our chances are high
• South Africa is a consistent under-performer
• NZ sparkling wines shows glimpses of greatness and lots of potential
• Similarly with Chardonnay
• Our best Rieslings are world class – we need more of them
• We’re too complacent about Sauvignon Blanc, Australia and South Africa are hot on our heels
• Similarly with Pinot Noir
• Australian Semillon (not just Hunter Valley Semillon) is one of the world’s great and least appreciated white wine styles
• More NZ producers should follow the leaders and make great Merlot – who knows, the variety could recover from a lengthy period of serial abuse
• NZ Syrah rocks – it has humbled some pretty great Australian wines in the past
• Australia rules, but NZ can surprise, in Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Blend classes
• Sweet wines are NZ’s secret vinous weapon