PETER McGrath from McGrath Cool Climate Wines has "a smile on his dial" this week.

The results from the Sydney Royal Wine Show have been released, and his 2008 Shiraz has picked up a bronze medal.

Despite being quietly confident the Shiraz would compete well – it has already been awarded two silver medals and three bronze at other wine shows – Mr McGrath was excited to receive the medal.

“The 2008 Shiraz did well at the international cool climate show and the national cool climate show,” he said.

“… [But] it’s nice to see we are matching it with the big boys … It is such a big name show. If I can make it here, than I can make it anywhere.”

The secret to a good drop, he says, is quality fruit.

“It [2008] was a good year for grapes, the right sugar levels and right acid levels.

“If you can look after it in the winery it pretty much looks after itself … you just have to keep an eye on things like oak integration.”

Mr McGrath was at the Exhibitors Tasting on Friday and said many of the big names in the wine industry were there.

“It is fascinating … the amount of wine here is amazing,” he said. “You can spot some really familiar faces in the wine industry.”

The McGrath Cool Climate Wines 2008 Shiraz has recently been released for sale – so you can buy a bottle in the local shops now.

Other local wineries that did well at the Sydney Royal Wine Show include: Philip Shaw Wines, Orange; Robert Oatley Vineyards, Mudgee; Bunnamagoo, Mudgee; and Logan’s Weemala wines, also from Mudgee.

And what of 2011?

At McGrath Cool Climate Wines they will be picking this year’s grapes from the end of March through April, and Mr McGrath is hopeful it will be another great crop.

“We managed to get through the wet season, and we have some really good fruit this year.”

Sydney Royal Wine Show - Bronze - May 4, 2020