Stringybark Winery’s 2018 verdelho wins best wine at the Singapore Airlines Swan Valley Wine Show

A small Chittering producer has taken out the trophy for the best wine of this year’s Singapore Airlines Swan Valley Wine Show against some of the biggest names in the valley.

Stringybark Winery won three trophies, including best wine of the show, with its 2018 verdelho, which owner Bruce Cussen admitted had caused him some anxious moments during vintage.

“Yes, we were a little worried as the alcohol climbed quickly, but in the end, we were able to get things under control and were very happy with the wine, and delighted with the result,” he said.

Bruce and Mary Cussen bought Stringybark in 1985 and sell all of their production through their successful restaurant where Mary is the chef.

“I love the style of wines from this area, especially the verdelho which is a slightly different style from that grown down in the Swan Valley,” he said.

Another verdelho, the Faber verdelho 2013, won the best Swan Valley wine, providing further evidence of the strength of this variety in the region.

Another favourite of the Swan, chenin blanc, stood out with the John Kosovich chenin blanc 2013 winning the Alan Dinneen Memorial trophy, which is awarded by the chief judge to the wine showing imagination, innovation and ingenuity.

The West Australian Media Award Trophy for the most successful producer was won by Talijancich Wines, which also won trophies for best small producer and best fortified wine.

This was the 30th Swan Valley Wine Show and attracted a record number of more than 270 entries, which also included wines sourced from other regions but made in the Swan Valley. As a judge, my view is that the depth and breadth of wines coming from the Swan Valley has never been better, with some of the best wines world class, especially the fortifieds, chenins and verdelhos.