Wine show ready to go

Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association’s annual wine show returns this year, albeit in a slightly different form due to COVID-19.

The event contains three individual shows, the Blackwood Valley Wine Show, WA Boutique Wine Show and WA Single Vineyard Wine Show.

Due to COVID-19, the customary public tasting event has been cancelled and will be replaced with an online event to allow wine fans to interact with the show.

President Craig Nield said the association was aiming to have about 280 entries, a similar amount to the entries they had last year.

“No one has been able to have a wine show over east because of what’s been happening, so I think entries should be strong, because we haven’t been able to enter wines in anything to this point,” he said.

Mr Nield, pictured, said it was exciting to be able to hold a show this year.

“Just being able to have it, when you go back a couple of months ago, we were basically looking at not having the show at all, but the way things are going at the moment being able to have a show is the best bit about it,” he said.

Willow Bridge Estate chief winemaker Kim Horton is the event’s chief judge and will head a panel of judges.

Mr Horton said he was excited to see what the region had to offer.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for me to look at the grassroots of the smaller regions,” he said.

“Capital city wine shows have volume limits so you don’t really get to see the full width and breadth of the producers from WA.

“We have much lower volume requirements, so it really allows you to see what the grassroots wineries within these smaller regions are up to.”

Entries are open until August 28 and can be made online at black woodvalleywine.com.au/wine-show/.