History

In 1999 Stefano de Pieri and Bruce Chalmers along with Dr. Rod Bonfiglioli, initiated the Sangiovese Awards and continued with the Australian Italian Wine Show in 2000. Following the success of these shows, the first Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show was held in Mildura in November 2001 with inaugural Chief of Judges, Tim White. The initial concept has evolved to include all alternative wine varieties (which are usually marginalised at mainstream shows) and now attracts over 600 entries from throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The show aims to provide an alternative to the mainstream wine shows, a dedicated forum for alternative or emerging wine varieties and to encourage alternative, more cutting edge judging procedures.

The Show is run by a group of passionate people including Chief of Judges, Max Allen and forces in the Australian wine industry including Chairman, Louisa Rose, Bruce Chalmers, Kathleen Quealy and Mark Walpole.

 Along with the committee this group is committed to exploring the growing, making, marketing and drinking of these exciting new wines. 

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Pinot G Graduated from AAVWS

The committee of the AAVWS has reviewed the inclusion of Pinot G in the show and a majority vote has resulted in the graduation of the varietal from the Show.

 While we understand that this is a subject that is close to some of your hearts, we believe that the Show has contributed to the education and market uptake of the varietal and that it is now time to move on.

Pinot G is no longer an alternative variety. There is no getting away from this fact.  Over the last decade or so in Australia Pinot G has experienced growth that other varieties could only dream about and currently makes up some 16% of our entries. In the 2009 vintage it made up 2.4% of the total national crush, surpassed in premium whites only by Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.   There is now less Riesling crushed than Pinot G. Pinot G is also bigger than every red variety other than Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot.

 And now for the real crux of the matter for us.  There are many new varieties and styles being made every year.  We feel it is the brief of the AAVWS to give these wines the best possible space and time for due consideration by the judges.  If they are continually swamped by the large numbers of Pinot G wines, then we run the risk of:
1.     not identifying and doing justice to the upcoming great varieties;
2.     having the exhibitors of the alternative varieties lose faith in the show;
3.     the AAVWS becoming just another large wine show, focussed on entry numbers, revenue and size rather than being innovative, relevant and useful.

 It’s time to celebrate the success of Pinot G – a success that the AAVWS has helped create. It’s time to let Pinot G graduate, to take its place among the ‘big boys’. It’s time to focus on the truly alternative, emerging players that need our help.

We look forward to Pinot G continuing its stellar rise and to the new focus the AAVWS can give to new alternative varieties and styles.

AAVWS Chair, Louisa Rose and Chief of Judges, Max Allen

 more than just a wine show 

If you are visiting Mildura for the AAVWS please book into our preferred accommodation house the QUALITY HOTEL MILDURA GRAND