Introduced in 2005 the Roberts Vineyard of the Year Competition is designed to encourage world class viticulture management in Tasmanian vineyards. RAST developed the award as part of its wider role of promoting competition amongst finished products. It aims to create quality benchmarks for the inputs into Tasmania’s premium food and wine products. The programme is managed in co-operation with Wine Industry Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industry and Water.
Entries in the award are judged on a number of criteria, such as: soil management and weed control, disease control, pruning, forming of the vine, trellising and water management.
The perpetual trophy for the Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year, the Richard Langdon Trophy, is a bronze goblet by noted Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker. The trophy was donated to the Society by Mrs Caroline Matterson, wife of the late Richard Langdon in recognition of his many years service to RAST and his involvement with growing grapes and making wine.
The competition is conducted between the period of November and March each year with the field day and trophy presentation scheduled for May at the competition winners vineyard.