5 Nations Presentation

Previously Tri Nations Wine Challenge Featuring 350 wines being the top 70 wines from each country.

Event Info

26 October 2012. Info here at a later date.

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The Five Judges

Each year the Chairman's role rotates. In the past Australia's James Halliday and England's Robert Joseph have acted as Chair to the Challenge.

In 2012 Michael Fridjhon will lead the five judges through the three days of judging to be held at Homebush, New South Wales, Australia. Fridjhon, also a founding member of the panel represents South Africa and will Chair the panel in 2012. Huon Hooke will represent Australia and will be responsible for the selection of the 100 Australian entries into the Challenge. 2012 will be Hooke's fourth year as a Judge. Bob Campbell MW has been with the Challenge from the start in 2003 and Chaired the Challenge in 2009. He will represent New Zealand. In 2011 the Challenge welcomed the expansion of the Challenge by inviting Eduardo Brethuer of Chile and Fabricio Portelli of Argentina. 2012 will be their second year as judges.

How The Challenge Works

This is the only wine show in the world where the wines come in exclusively by invitation from the five Judges.

There are sixteen classes. They are: Sparkling; Chardonnay; Aromatic; Sauvignon Blanc; Other White Varieties including white blends; Pinot Gris; Rose; Pinot Noir; Merlot; Malbec; Bordeaux Blends; Non Bordeaux Red Blends; Other Red Varietals; Shiraz; Cabernet Sauvignon; Dessert. Each Judge is set the task of nominating SEVEN wines from a minimum of 14 Classes - the best in their country regardless of size of company and number of wines available. The task is to win not only the classes including Wine of Show but the Country of Show as determined by the aggregate scores.

The selections are communicated to the Challenge office in Sydney and the invitations to participate are sent out to the winemakers. The sample bottles are consolidated in each country and shipped to Sydney in time to take a rest in cool storage prior to the judging. Two days before the judging the wines are transported to the judging rooms where the Stewards match the wines to the judging sheets and each wine is given a number within its class.

There are three judging days in Sydney. The wines are poured out of sight of the Judges who then convene and each judge 35 wines in all classes identified only by numbers. The scores are calculated to determine; Trophy and Runner up (Double Gold) in each class plus Gold medals where appropriately agreed. All trophy wines are re-judged for the Four Seasons Wine of Show, White Wine of Show and Red Wine of Show. Nation of Show is then calculated with regard to the aggregate scores.

The Presentation Tasting event and Winners' Dinner is set approximately one month later in Sydney and the master classes and dinners are planned in Shanghai and Hong Kong to maximize the achievement for the winners.