Gamble pays off for small Tasmanian wine producer

Big wine companies can afford to enter wine shows around the world - and showcase their successes. 

For smaller producers, however, every wine show entry costs money - and is an investment in belief.

That investment paid off for a small Tasmanian producer this month when when one of the island's state's pioneering wineries - Bream Creek Vineyard - saw its 2023 Pinot Noir awarded the Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for “Best Wine of Show” at at the 2024 Sydney Royal Wine Show.

Regular readers will be aware GOTR does not generally cover wine show results but it was the youngest red to win Best Wine in Show for more than 24 years, the first pinot noir to claim Best Wine of Show since 2015 and the first Tasmanian wine to win Best Wine of Show since 2016. 

Plus the team at Bream Creek are top people.

“The young pinot class was a real highlight for our judges this year, and this standard of quality can be reflected in our 2024 Wine of Show winner, the 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir,” said chief judge Sarah Crowe. 

“For a young red to stand out among over 1,700 entries is impressive, and if that wasn’t remarkable enough, it is also the youngest red to win Wine of Show in Sydney in the last two decades, if not longer. It is quite the achievement."

The winning wine was reviewed here several weeks ago: https://tasmanianwineonline.blogspot.com/2024/07/bream-creek-2023-pinot-noir.html so GOTR readers were ahead of the game. 

Bream Creek was founded by Tasmanian industry pioneer Fred Peacock in 1990. 

“I was very pleased when we were announced as the winner of the Best Pinot Noir Trophy” he said.  “Our 2023 Bream Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir won the same award a little over a month ago at the Royal Queensland Wine Show, so I knew it certainly had the quality to stand out. 

"However, to be called up again for the Best Red Wine of Show and then again for the big one - Best Wine of Show - I must say I was at a loss for words!”

Situated at the top of the historic Bream Creek vineyard - first planted in 1974 and featuring spectacular views over Marion Bay and Maria Island, Bream Creek is also home to one of Tasmania's most spectacular cellar doors. 

See https://www.breamcreekvineyard.com.au/