Pinot Noir crowned Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show

Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine, today returned to the Ekka to present the inaugural Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show. A Tasmanian Pinot Noir took out the accolade, and is the first red wine to win the wine of show in six years.

The Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 is a top drop. Chief Judge Jim Chatto reckoned as soon as he tasted it, it was going to be a tough one to beat. Its clarity of fruit, exquisite perfume and profound structure made it an absolute standout.”

Angelo Puglisi

Angelo and his wife of fifty years Mary were presented their first winemaking gold medal 45 years ago at Royal Queensland Wine Show (RQWS) Awards. Back then, Angelo was swaggering about wearing Elvis Presley sideburns, a purple safari suit and pointy shoes, a seventies style-meister!

The Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show award is a perpetual acknowledgment to Puglisi’s influence and respect in the industry.

This is such an honour for me, my family and the Queensland winemaking fraternity. We’ve come a long way since the sixties, when my neighbours warned me that the vineyard would fail because only wogs drank wine in Queensland!”

Angelo Puglisi

Angelo’s fighting spirit has seen him repeatedly triumph over adversity. According to Granite Belt winemaker Mike Hayes,

The Puglisi family, I believe, embody the Queensland fighting spirit like few others. They have done it really tough from the start. But they survived and prospered. Once they were hit with four or five frosts in a row that just about wiped out their entire crop. Then came the hail … But Angelo kept his chin up. He just keep working and working as hard as ever. He drove the same car for 600,000km and he wouldn’t put any of the workers off even though there was little work.

Angelo has been a real battler for his family. For that he has been rewarded with a rich life. He inspires me. I have got nothing but the highest respect for that family and what they have achieved.” 

Granite Belt winemaker Mike Hayes

Ballandean Estate will soon release its 2018 Opera Block Shiraz, the 50th Anniversary edition of the shiraz planted 50 years ago.  It is available now at the pre-release price of $50 per bottle.