Vineyard of
the year
NEXT EVENT DATE: event for 2019 has passed.
Vineyard of the year
Following the successful alignment with the Wine Tasmania VinØ (Vin-Zero) program in 2018 we have decided to continue that partnership with the aim of expanding the membership of that program over the next few years. Both the Vineyard of the Year competition and the VinØ program are aimed at developing the industry and assisting members in attaining best practice so it makes sense to better align both.
As in previous years, the prestigious Vineyard of the Year Award will also be open to other vineyards not participating in VinØ. Entry will be $85.00 for non VinØ members and free for VinØ participants. We have again simplified the judging criteria by removing the commercial in confidence components and focusing on-farm factors such as pruning techniques, fertiliser application and storage and soil management.
All participants in VinØ will be invited to enter the Society’s award, with their VinØ surveys and information being used as the basis for judging. This will reduce the burden on VinØ program members, as they have already completed an in depth analysis and report on their viticulture practices. There will also be the continuation of the 'Most Improved Vineyard', highlighting a business which has best demonstrated continual improvement in the VinØ program or through previous entry in the Vineyard of the Year competition.
Earlier this year, the Society named Stargazer Vineyard at Tea Tree in the south of the State, as the 2019 Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year and the 2019 Most Improved Vineyard. As part of its Award, Sam Connew and her team hosted a very successful wine sector field day at the vineyard.
Judging of the 2020 Vineyard of the Year will occur in the first quarter of next year, probably around early to mid-February 2020 and the winner will host a field day in late May 2020.
“Wine Tasmania has been a long term supporter and partner in the Vineyard of the Year initiative and is delighted to announce that the 2020 program will be further enhanced through linkages with Wine Tasmania's VinØ program. VinØ is a tailored program to help Tasmanian growers monitor, measure, report, benchmark and improve their viticultural practices, to produce outstanding quality grapes, while minimising impacts on the environment and the community.” said Paul Smart, Technical and Extension Officer of Wine Tasmania.
“The VinØ program strives for the same positive outcomes for Tasmanian wine producers as our own Vineyard of the Year program”, said Scott Gadd, CEO of the RAST. “So it made sense to extend our benchmarking program to participants in VinØ without the need for formal entries.” More information on VinØ can be found here: http://winetasmania.com.au/products/Vin0
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