October 2020: Despite 12 months of challenges which have tested wine growers and tourism across the Hunter Valley, Briar Ridge Vineyard has been recognised at the Riverina Wine Show, Royal Adelaide Wine Show and NSW Wine Awards, marking some impressive achievements for the Mount View, Hunter Valley based boutique winery.
Alongside eight medals, Briar Ridge Vineyard received the Trophy for the Best White Wine and Champion Wine of Show in the Australian Italian Varieties at the Riverina Wine Show, despite tough competition within one of the largest region wine shows in Australia.
The winery also received four medals in the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, and eight medals in the 2020 NSW Wine Awards, with two Semillon releases currently under consideration for trophies to be announced on 23rd October.
“We are a small operation but have a history of producing a diverse range of high-quality wines,” said winemaker Alex Beckett.
“It’s an honour to be recognised by such prestigious awards, and especially thrilling to receive a trophy for our Limited Release 2020 Fiano,” he said.
With the Riverina alone accounting for 60% of NSW total wine production, recognition at the Riverina Wine Show is noteworthy for any winery, and marks a significant first for Beckett, who received the first trophy of his career after joining Briar Ridge Vineyard in 2016.
“This is an important milestone for Alex and extremely well-deserved,” said Jaclyn Davis, Owner & General Manager, Briar Ridge Vineyard.
“2020 has proved challenging for the entire industry, but with some exciting developments in the pipeline and now this recognition at the Riverina Wine Show, Royal Adelaide Wine Show and NSW Wine Awards, we feel confident in what’s coming up for Briar Ridge Vineyard,” she said.
Indeed, travel restrictions have fuelled unprecedented local patronage at the cellar door, while the local ecosystem is showing remarkable recovery from crippling summer bushfires and widespread drought.
“We have just reintroduced an innovative vine and beekeeping experience, coinciding with the largest honey production our resident beekeeper has seen to date,” said Davis.
“This is not only significant for the hives here at Mount View, but speaks volumes about the way the local area is recovering from what was an extraordinarily hard summer.”