Life
Royal wines! Australia’s best get the royal treatment
What is a ‘Royal’ wine show and why are they some of Australia’s best?
In Australia, if ‘Royal’ is in a wine show title it simply means the competition is organised by the not-for-profit Royal Agricultural Society (RAS), not that a Queen, Prince or royal representative presides over the judging panel – sorry Prince Harry fans! There is no National RAS as such, with each Australian state having their own organisation committed to promoting and developing their agricultural produce, as well as celebrating excellence through a range of special events and competitions.
While many Australians may not be aware of the important work done by the RAS through their agricultural investments, education and community initiatives, what Australians are probably more familiar with are the many prestigious competitions the RAS runs. This is especially true of Wine Selectors Members who are fortunate to have enjoyed many RAS award-winning wines over the years. Currently, Wine Selectors has a red, white and mixed pack dedicated to Royal Show Winners wines, featuring Trophy and Gold medal winners. Lucky Members!
RAS is the benchmark for state and national prestige
RAS wine shows have earned such a prestigious reputation by adhering to strict rules and regulations, including world-class programs and international judging criteria. In fact, today the RAS are known as setting the benchmark for all Australian agricultural awards and as such they run the competitions that all of Australia’s most innovative wineries want to win.
As ambassadors for agriculture it goes without saying that the RAS are regional advocates, running a host of state-run events and competitions throughout regional Australia. However, it is their city-based Wine Shows that draw the most attention, as they tend to be each state’s biggest, longest running and generally sought-after wine show. Plus, if a wine wins at one of the city shows, not only will it boost the wine, winery, and winemaker’s profile, it puts the wine in the running for the big one, Canberra’s National Wine Show!
If you want to see which wines are performing well in 2019, below is a run-down of all the state-run Royal Wine Shows. Or if you want to taste some previous Royal Wine Show Trophy and Gold medal winners for yourself, look no further than the Royal Show Winners dozens. They’re spectacular!
Royal Wine Shows of 2019
Royal Queensland Wine Show – July 2019
Brisbane traditionally hosts the first Royal Wine Show each year, and for over 140 years Queensland has been known as the show to watch if you want a sneak peek at what current trends and emerging styles are catching the judges’ eyes.
Sydney Royal Wine Show - August 2019
One of Australia’s oldest RAS competitions, dating back to 1826, is also one of Australia’s biggest. The Sydney Royal Wine Show attracts over 2300 entries annually from more than 370 different wineries.
Royal Hobart Wine Show – August 2019
One of Australia’s youngest RAS shows with Tasmania’s first wine show event held in 1974, enlists many international, as well as renowned Australian judges, reflecting its quick rise in popularity and national appeal.
Perth Royal Wine Awards – August 2019
Established in 1843, the Perth Royal Wine Awards are credited with putting Western Australia on the map as a producer of quality wines, shining a spotlight on the incredible wines from regions such as the Margaret River and Great Southern.
Royal Adelaide Wine Show – September 2019
South Australia is home to Australia’s most famous wine producing region, the Barossa Valley, making the Royal Adelaide Wine Show one that all lovers of Australian wine keep their eyes on.
Royal Melbourne Wine Awards – October 2019
The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards is home to some of Australia’s most prestigious individual awards, including the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red, and the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot.
National Wine Show of Australia – November 2019
The Royal National Capital wine show is the wine calendar’s big finale. To qualify for this prestigious event the competing wines must have won at Australian regional and capital city wine shows. A Trophy won here in Canberra is as big as Australian wine awards get!
Now that you know all about the RAS and their prestigious array of wine shows, taste a dozen Royal Show Winners for yourself!