About The Challenge
The Riesling Challenge
Established in 2000
The vision of a National Riesling Challenge came from Ken Helm, of Helm Wines at Murrumbateman, NSW, in 1999. It was accepted by Virginia Rawling, Manager of the Cool Climate Wine Show, also at Murrumbateman, and they successful sought funding from the Yass Shire Development Corporation to develop the concept. At the 1999 Cool Climate Wine Show, David Brownhill, then a Senator, now Chair of the Australia Wine and Brandy Corporation, launched the idea publicly. The support was immediate and national, but it was soon realised that the Murrumbateman committee could not respond to such an event.
Ken Helm approached a number of groups to develop the idea. The General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Michael Koopman enthusiastically embraced the idea and committed the Hyatt Hotel Canberra as the major sponsor. He suggested that the event be held at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra and the major prize be a trip to the German Rhineland with five nights accommodation at the Hyatt on Mainz. Qantas responded by offering the plane fare. A Hyatt National Riesling Challenge Committee was formed from leading Canberra business people, including the Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Qantas, ACT Chief Ministers Department, Jim Murphys Market Cellars, ActewAGL, BRL Hardy and Helm Wines. It was agreed that Ken Helm chair the Committee and that they approach Wolf Blass to be Chairman of Judges. Wolf Blass agreed immediately.
The inaugural event was held in October 2000, at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra and attracted 137 entries from 81 wineries across Australia. It was a great success and at the Awards Dinner Wolf Blass announced that the Wolf Blass Foundation would become a major sponsor for five years with $5,000 each year. This was matched by Kate Carnell, the then ACT Chief Minister, and all sponsors pledged their commitments. She also announced a Trophy for the Best Canberra District Riesling the Chief Ministers Trophy. It was then decided to expand to an international event in future years. The purpose of the Hyatt National Riesling Challenge is to develop the profile, quality, and innovation in winemaking of the Riesling wine styles and promote them to the world.
The second Riesling Challenge was held in February 2002 as it was agreed that the wines needed some bottle time to show their best. This meant no event was held in 2001. International Riesling expert from Germany, Astrid Mullers, was sponsored by the Wolf Blass Foundation to judge. The event was expanded to include New Zealand Rieslings and a Secretary, Robyn Coates, was employed to administer the event. The 2002 Challenge attracted 103 wineries in Australia and New Zealand.
The 2003 Hyatt National Riesling Challenge saw 154 wines entered from Australia and New Zealand and Philippa Muller became Secretary. New Zealander, Brent Marris joined Wolf Blass on the judging panel with Lousia Rose, Philip Laffer, David OLeary and media judge Jeni Port.
The 2004 February event attracted the largest collection of Rieslings ever assembled 200 entries from Australia and New Zealand. The German Ambassador to Australia, Dr Klaus-Peter Klaiber KCMG, offered a trophy for the best German Riesling and 21 wines were entered for a comparison tasting and promotion. In the future, Australian winemakers will be invited to provide wines for a similar tasting in Germany an important step forward in developing exports of Australian Rieslings to Germany.
The Charles Sturt University agreed to support the event by providing Assistant Stewards from their student winemakers. Professor Geoffrey Scollary, Chair of Oenology at CSU, supported the concept and arranged to sponsor Professor Ann Noble from the University of California, Davis, to join the judging panel for the next Challenge in October 2004.
The Challenge Committee decided that the event is best held in October as renewed interest and demand for Rieslings found wine companies having difficulty complying with the entry condition to have 100 dozen bottled and commercially available. Rieslings released in August/September were selling out so quickly there were insufficient stocks remaining by February. Consumers have indicated their choice is fresh, young Riesling styles, a move from the mature wines that were traditionally favoured. Accordingly in 2004 two Riesling Challenges were held, in February and October, and the Challenge will continue as an October event.
For the 5th Riesling Challenge held in October 2004, Trish Burgess became Administrator and the Challenge received another record number of entries with 205 from 88 Australian and 18 New Zealand wine companies.
In 2003 Wolf Blass instigated the Wolf Blass Award to recognise a person, group of people or innovation that has made a major contribution to the development and promotion of Riesling. The inaugural winner was Guenter Prass AM of Orlando Wines for his lifetime contribution to the development of quality white wines and in particular Riesling. In February 2004 the Award recognised the contribution of the Clare Valley Winemakers Association for their collective decision to use screw caps on Riesling wines. In October 2004 the Award went to Peter Lehmann AM of the Barossa Valley recognising his outstanding contribution to winemaking and the development of Riesling.
The Hyatt International Riesling Challenge is becoming one of the most important wine competitions in Australia. Ken Helm, Wolf Blass, and the members of the Hyatt International Riesling Challenge Committee will continue to develop the concept to promote Riesling, nationally and internationally, to improve its quality and encourage innovation and research for better styles.
Wines from the 2003 Challenge
