Wine News with Anne Dawson

Despite the Wallabies’ recent rugby union  loss in Durban it’s not all bad news for Australia in the world of tri-nations competitions.

Western Australia’s Stella Bella Wines was a third and fourth place getter at the recent Tri Nations Wine Challenge between Australian, New Zealand and South African wines.

This result was also a first for Stella Bella, which managed to finish ahead of all other Australian wines entered in the tri-nations competition.

The Margaret River label was awarded third in the sauvignon blanc/semillon class for its Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2002, and fourth in the same class for its Stella Bella Sauvignon Blanc 2003.

The competition was judged by a panel with representatives from each nation – Bob Campbell MW from New Zealand, Michael Fridjhon from South Africa, and Australia’s James Halliday.

For the record, Australia took the overall trophy in Tri Nations Wine Challenge.

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Sandalford Winery has won the Swan Business of the Year Award for the second time.

Sandalford proprietor Peter Prendiville says the winery is proud to win the award in light of the calibre of competitors.

“At Sandalford we do not stand on previous successes, instead choosing to always look for new ideas that flow with the continual movements of the consumers’ demands,” he says.

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Capel Vale Winery has opened a function room designed to accommodate a corporate clientele.

In what seems to be the season for grand openings, Capel Vale’s Sheldrake room will add another dimension to the winery in the hope of capturing some of the market of business travellers to the Bunbury and Busselton region.