Australian Saperavi wins Champion Wine award

The Australian media reports that "a little-known red wine variety named Saperavi from the Granite Belt has won first prize at this year's Queensland Wine Awards".

"The grapes originally come from Georgia and when translated Saperavi means 'paint' or 'dye' which reflects the way the wine coats the glass with a deep red colour." Australian ABC agency reports.

Ballandean Estate in Southern Queensland planted the Saperavi grapes six years ago but have not yet sold a bottle of the wine. Ballandean Estate winemaker Dylan Rhymer nearly didn't enter the wine into the competition because he didn't think it was ready. "The judges were glad they got to see the wine in its youth so as the wine ages it will be interesting to see what happens." It's a wine that likes cool climates and given it's a loose bunch the grapes at Ballandean Estate haven't suffered much disease pressure. The winery's viticulturalist Angelo Puglisi won Viticulturalist of the Year and Dylan Rhymer won Winemaker of the Year for Queensland. (Hvino News)