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Outstanding on the Pier

Outstanding on the Pier

This year marks the second rendition of the revamped NSW Wine Awards, a highly prestigious awards program recognising the best wines from the diverse State of New South Wales. Again in 2014, wine lovers will have a unique opportunity to taste these #topwines for themselves at an ‘outstanding’ tasting event in the heart of Sydney.

The NSW Wine Awards, which have been running since 1996, culminates in a trophy presentation recognising NSW Top Wines, taking place over lunch at Simmer on the Bay on the shores of Sydney Harbour on Friday 31 October 2014.

The large format consumer tasting aptly tagged ‘Outstanding on the Pier’ will be held at Pier 2, Walsh Bay, for the second year running, on Thursday 30 October. Attendees can taste, chat and critique the wines judged as NSW’s #topwines alongside some of the State’s finest winemakers. The event will showcase wines from north to south, east to west in one convenient location and provide an opportunity to taste what will arguably be the best line up of NSW Wines Sydney has ever seen.

The highly sought after tickets are only $45* and will enable wine lovers to spend four hours tasting around 100 Gold, Silver and trophy winning wines and experience some of NSW’s best regional produce. Producers such as Pepe Saya, Olsson’s, Alto Olives, Brasserie Bread, The Loch, Hunter Valley Cheese Company and Dessertmakers will all be showcasing their gourmet specialties at this ultimate food and wine event. As an added bonus, attendees can keep their Riedel glass (valued at $20).  Guests will also be eligible to vote in the ‘People’s Choice’ award, giving them the chance to win an outstanding wine package valued at almost $1,500, including a selection of this year’s top wines and a selection of glassware courtesy of Riedel. Tickets to this superb event are limited.

Earlier in the day the newly created NSW Wine List of the Year will be awarded in a trade and media preview of the evening’s ‘Outstanding on the Pier’ event, also at Pier 2. The NSW Wine Awards presentation lunch at Simmer on the Bay will see some 300 wine industry professionals gather for one of the last official industry catch-ups before Christmas and the 2015 vintage. The laughter and camaraderie among industry colleagues is sure to flow amidst the sunshine, as much as the award and trophy-winning wines, all matched to a $165 per person three course meal.

This year, NSW Wine has partnered with the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW to move the judging of the wine awards to Griffith, showcasing one of the State’s top wine regions. Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Andrew Stoner, said the NSW Wine Awards celebrate the best of the State’s food and wine. “Holding the judging component in Griffith this year enables us to showcase the array of gourmet offerings throughout one of NSW’s key food and wine regions, the Riverina,” Mr Stoner said.  “I look forward to the announcement of the NSW Top Wines for 2014, and encourage people to get along to the Outstanding on the Pier event in Sydney to taste the best of our State’s wines, complemented by fantastic local produce.”

Entries for this year’s awards have now closed and the judging of more than 800 wines will take place from 30 September – 1st October. This year’s judging panel is chaired by PJ Charteris and also includes well-respected individuals Matt Harrop, Russell Cody, Kate Goodman, Tom Hogan, Drew Tuckwell, Adrian Sparks, Liz Jackson and Toni Paterson.

‘Outstanding on the Pier’ is open to the public from 5.00pm – 9.00pm on Thursday 30 October, and members of the media and trade are also welcome between 2.30pm and 4.00pm at which time the NSW Wine List of the Year will be awarded. The NSW Wine Awards presentation lunch at Simmer on the Bay will kick off from 12.00pm, for 12:30pm on Friday 31 October, 2014.

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