Yarra Yering winemaker Sarah Crowe has been named as the first female Chair of Judges at the 2018 Hunter Valley Wine Show.
Winner of the 2017 James Halliday Winemaker of the Year award, Crowe will take the reigns from mentor PJ Charteris, who had been in the role since 2015.
“Sarah will bring a wonderful dynamic and balanced approach which will be amply supported by her in-depth knowledge of the Hunter’s wines,” says David Flynn, Hunter Valley Wine Show president. “Not only is she the 2017 Halliday Winemaker of the Year, but perhaps more importantly, a person of great character and standing within the industry and we are thrilled to have her.”
Corinne Mui has also been announced as the international judge for the show. Mui is a senior wine educator and is also the wine ambassador for Wine Australia in Asia.
Mui will join one of three judging panels, with each consisting of one panel chair, two senior judges and one trainee judge.
Judges will be sampling up to 130 wines per day and the awards will be judged by an integrated software system specifically designed to facilitate all function so the show from online entry and electronic judging to scoring and result collation. Scoring will come through live to the heads of the panel.
Judging of the exhibits takes place from 20–22 August. Winners will be announced at the Clear Image Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association Celebrations luncheon on Friday 24 August at Oaks Cypress Lakes.