AS A CONSUMER, THAT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW.

A sudden surge of overnight entries on Tuesday, August 26 and early on the Wednesday morning, causing entries to close seventeen days prior to the nominated 12 September closing date, caught all of us by surprise. All the literature clearly states that entries will close on the nominated closing date or upon reaching the 2,000 entries cap. But a lot of regular entrants, including previous Trophy winners, as well as many first time entrants were caught off guard. In fact, entries had soared to 2,132 before we could post a closure notice on the website and transmit an e-zine to our winemaker database. We have since received more than 500 additional entries which have had to be declined. And that is not including wineries which phoned to enquire if there was still a chance that further entries might be accepted but whom, on hearing the reasons for the closure, decided not to offer.

The reason for the Entries Cap is simple. Australian judges represent less than half the fourteen member Panel. The majority are offshore judges from six other countries. We favour experienced, well credentialed judges from major and emerging export markets; also, judges from New World wine producing countries who are Australia’s competitors in world markets. Arriving on the Sunday morning, socialising and settling in on the Sunday afternoon, returning to Sydney for the Farewell Dinner on the Friday afternoon prior to flying out on the Saturday morning, means that, effectively, we only have them for four and a half days of judging. Considering the concentration that is involved in giving each wine full consideration, there has to be a limit to the number of wines we can accept. As a consumer, it’s important for you to know that the Awards you trust have not been granted by Judges with over-stressed, fatigued palates.