Wait on Evans & Tate

WINE aficionados will have to wait until December for Evans & Tate’s award-winning 1999 Margaret River shiraz to be released.

The wine recently beat 4,875 other red wines from around the world to win the overall trophy for best red wine at the prestigious Britain’s International Wine Challenge.

In the 1999 Challenge, the company won two gold medals for its 1996 Margaret River cabernet sauvignon and 1996 Margaret River merlot.

The competition, now in its 17th year, drew more than 9,000 entries from 35 countries including France and Italy.

More than 550 professional wine judges from various countries were involved.

Evans & Tate executive chairman Franklin Tate said he knew there had been some doubts about the Margaret River region’s ability to produce quality shiraz fruit.

“This win has certainly vindicated our decision to persist with shiraz, and will hopefully go a long way to easing the doubts of others,” Mr Tate said.

* See Briefcase.