May 25th, 2020Macedon vignerons gunning for wine awards

Established in 2007, the Young Gun of Wine awards has been seeking and assembling a long list of 50 emerging vintners from across Australia – and Macedon has made the list with several tasty drops.

A panel of wine experts narrow the Top 50 down to 12 finalists before awarding the Best New Act award (to a first-time finalist) and the Young Gun of Wine award. However, the 12 finalists and the public also get to pick their own winners from the Top 50 via the Winemaker’s Choice and the People’s Choice Awards. It’s the latter that really sets Young Gun apart.

Ordinarily, a public event is held in Sydney and Melbourne for tastings and the casting of votes but this year there will be a series of live-streamed events focused on different Australian wine regions which bring the Top 50 to the lounge room.

Macedon’s Wilimee, Dilworth and Allain and Lyons Will Estate have been selected to represent the region in the Macedon, Yarra, Mornington and Geelong event being streamed live on Saturday, May 30 at 4pm.

People can also buy the wines of their choice in advance, taste along and ask the winemakers questions – even anonymously.

Winemaker Ben Rankin, from Wilimee Wines, will be one of the many experts answering questions and sharing knowledge. “Sally and I, with small girls, bought Wilimee six years ago. It’s one of the oldest vineyards in Macedon planted in 1982.

“We renamed the vineyard to Wilimee as next door to us is a heritage-listed ancient Aboriginal quarry, about 1500 years old, named Wilimee Mooring, meaning place of stone axe.”

Wilimee has been selected for its 2018 Chardonnay and the wine will be tasted alongside 2018 Lyons Will Estate Gamay and 2018 Dilworth and Allain Wines ‘Douge’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir.

Ben said the soil was what made his wine so special.

“The soil here is unique as it’s a 500 million-year old Cambrian soil seabed, which is great for growing vines. We are converting our vineyard to organic, utilising regenerative agriculture principles. The vines are dry grown so yields are low, producing intense concentrated fruit.

“Winemaking is simple, just let the fruit speak of its place. New moon principles are used during wine-making so we don’t have to filter or intervene with the wine. Our chardonnay reflects the ancient soil and the vineyard site. It’s delicious and age-worthy. “

Young Gun of Wine’s virtual event is free but registration is mandatory.

Link: www.younggunofwine.com/events

Words: Collette McKay | Image: Contributed