Wine News
Drink Easy’s head wine judge Emma Farrelly here! I am incredibly excited about the 2021 season of Drink Easy. I’m keen to see what producers have been getting up to across the country and it will be intriguing to see which categories have increased or decreased in entries due to the stylistic demands of the consumer.
Personally, I am hoping to see freshness and complexity throughout the categories and look forward to exploring a very diverse range of styles, varieties and regions.
Good wine, for me, is something that shows not only smart winemaking but also a sense of place, great energy and balance; something interesting, drinkable and ultimately delicious!
If a wine has all these components I tend to gravitate towards them in various ways – buy them, sell them, drink them, share them…
This year’s Drink Easy judging team is incredibly strong and I am honoured (and slightly awe-struck) by the calibre of these judges. What an amazing opportunity to taste and discuss wine with so many significant people. I cannot wait for the conversations to begin.
Drink Easy has decided to push the awards back to August to give producers a little more time to get their wines into bottles and submit. It’s looking like it will be a strong vintage for many parts of the country and I can’t wait to see the results!
New Drink Easy dates:
Bottle & Can Delivery: Monday 1 March 2021 to Wednesday 28 July 2021
Submissions Close: Friday 23 July 2021
Judging: Wednesday 11 August 2021 to Friday 13 August 2021
Awards Party: October 2021
What are the categories?
White Wine -- Light + Refreshing
White Wine -- Medium Bodied + Textural
White Wine -- Full Flavoured
Red Wine -- Light & Refreshing
Red Wine -- Medium Bodied & Textural
Red Wine -- Full Flavoured
Sparkling –- Charmat / Transfer / Traditional (Red or White)
Sparkling –- Pet Nat
Rose
Vermouth / Aromatised Wine
Skin Contact / Orange Wine
Fortified
How will your products compare to Drink Easy’s 2019 Wine Top 10?
1: Oakridge Wines
2019 Garden Gris
Yarra Valley (Vic)
2: Koerner Wine
2018 ‘Nielluccio’ Sangiovese
Watervale (SA)
3: Mewstone
2018 Riesling
Huon Valley/D'Entrecasteaux Channel (Tas)
4: Crittenden Estate
Cri de Coeur 2015 Savagnin
Mornington Peninsula (Vic)
5: Harkham Wines
2018 Aziza's Shiraz
Hunter Valley (NSW)
6: Mallaluka
2018 Sangiovese Rosé
Canberra District (NSW)
7: Brave New Wine
Nat Daddy 2019 Sauvignon Blanc/Shiraz
Great Southern (WA)
8: Smallfry Wines
Tangerine Dream 2019
Barossa Valley (SA)
9: Maidenii
Kina Quinquina 2018
Central Victoria (VIC)
10: Ngeringa
Uncultured Pinot Noir 2019
Adelaide Hills (SA)