History of the Canberra International Riesling Challenge
The concept of the Riesling Challenge came from Ken Helm, a pioneer Canberra winemaker with a passion for Riesling. The idea was launched in 1999 by Senator David Brownhill, later the Chair of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, at the Murrumbateman Cool Climate Wine Show.
The concept was further developed by Ken, with the Hyatt Hotel Canberra (the major sponsor at the time) and a group of Canberra business people including Jim Murphy AM, James Service, Paul Walshe and Emmanuel Notaras, together with the ACT Government.
Mr Wolf Blass AM accepted an invitation to be chairman of judges. He held that position for six years, introduced the Wolf Blass Award, became a major sponsor, member of the Committee and is now the International Ambassador for the Challenge. Ken Helm was elected Chairman and from that position has guided development over the last ten years.
The inaugural event in October 2000 at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra attracted 137 entries from across Australia. In 2002 entries were sought from New Zealand, and in 2003 the Wolf Blass Award was included to recognise a person or organisation that has made a major contribution to the development and promotion of Riesling.
In 2004 the then German Ambassador, Dr Klaus Peter Klaiber, offered a perpetual trophy for the Best German Wine and organised a comparative tasting of 21 German wines. This was so successful that in 2005 the event became the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, and has since attracted increasing numbers of wines from the Riesling producers across the world.
In 2006, Louise Rose, Chief Winemaker at Yalumba Wines South Australia, became Chair of Judges for three years.
2008 saw the introduction of judging on a regional level, which showcased the individual characteristics unique to the wine’s location in the world. The Challenge attracted 512 entires from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the USA, South Africa and Austria. It has become an internationally-recognised wine event, making it the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
2009 marked the 10th anniversary and again, received record numbers with 550 entires from 10 countries. A new initiative that year was the introduction of Associate Judges to train them in the appreciation of world Rieslings. Judging took place in a larger area at the Albert Hall, adjacent to the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. In 2009 a trophy was presented to the ACT Government in appreciation of the support the Government has given over the years. David O’Leary, Chief Winemaker from O’Leary Walker Wines began his three years as Chair of the high-profile judging panel.
2010 saw a record number of entries from Australia and nine countries represented world wine. Two new trophies were introduced, the Best Dry Riesling and the Best Sweet Riesling, in recognition of the increasing versatility of Riesling.
We thank the continued support of the judges, exhibitors, the ACT Government, our sponsors and Canberra’s embassies and high commissions for making this event such an international success.
