On 5 August they held their 2nd annual Quest for the Best wine competition with the unfailing mission to improve the overall quality of Wellington wines. The judges were unanimous in their feed-back that Wellington has got incredible diversity and challenged the region to specialise should they want to. Dave Hughes also complimented the winemakers for a marked elegance emerging from the wines tasted.
The Best Overall Wine went to Napier for the 2008 St Catherine. This wine also walked away with the Best Museum Class White award. Diemersfontein 2010 Carpe Diem Viognier and 2001 Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively received Best White and Best Museum Class Red accolades. The Best Red title went to Bosman Family Vineyards for their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Two awards were handed out for Best Value and 2009 Alkmaar Old School Master was the Red, and Bovlei ‘s 2010 Gewurtztraminer, the White winner. The Best Spririt award got split between Upland Organic Potstill Brandy (Best Grape Spirit) and James Sedgwick’s Three Ships 10yr Single Malt (Best Grain Spirit).
No fewer than 80 wines were entered by Wellington producers and on the first day of the competition all the winemakers were invited to screen taste. Some 50 wines went through to the final round and Dave Hughes’ panel consisting of Duimpie Bayly, Margaret Fry, Melanie van der Merwe and Jaco Potgieter from DGB.
