15th IFOAM Organic World Congress
20-23 September 2005, Adelaide, South Australia

In the early days, certified organic wine had a bad name stemming from a lack of quality. Well, no more, according to national wine judge and University of Adelaide Oenology Lecturer Dr Sue Bastian at the IFOAM World Viticulture and Wine Conference.

"I strongly believe that the wines presented provide an equal match to their conventionally produced counterparts, and meet the expectations of consumers on the basis of taste and flavour," she said.

"Presented wines ranged from good to premium quality, rejecting some general misconceptions surrounding organic wine of representing a lower quality or 'alternative' product", said Sue.

The judging was undertaken by Dr Bastian, Dr Paul Bowyer, also of the University of Adelaide and Kym Schroeter, Penfolds winemaker, with assistance from Briony Liebich of Provisor, the Australian Wine Research Institute’s commercial arm. Nineteen of the 26 wines presented received awards, an indication of the high quality found by the judges.

Merit Award Winners

High Merit

Captains Creek 2003 Chardonnay
Organic Vignerons Australia 2003 Bin 621 Mataro Shiraz Grenache
Penfolds 2005 Penfolds Organic Chardonnay http://penfolds.com.au/
Penfolds 2004 Penfolds Organic Cabernet Merlot Shiraz http://penfolds.com.au/
Robinvale Wines 2002 Demeter Reserve Kerner
Robinvale Wines 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Ruby Cabernet
Temple Bruer 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot
The Food Forest 2004 Jelly Palm Liqueur http://www.foodforest.com.au/

Merit

Penfolds 2004 Penfolds Organic Chardonnay http://penfolds.com.au/
Penfolds 2003 Penfolds Organic Cabernet Merlot Shiraz http://penfolds.com.au/
Organic Vignerons Australia 2004 Viognier
Random Valley 2005 Delicato I
Robinvale Wines 2004 Demeter Cabernets
Robinvale Wines 2002 Demeter Zinfandel
Rosnay Organic Wines 2002 Shiraz
Settlers Ridge 2005 Sauvignon blanc
Wilkie Estate 2004 Verdelho
Wilkie Estate 2002 Cabernet Merlot

More information is contained in the official press release (PDF), which can also be found at http://www.ifoam2005.info/data/Congress_Viticulture.pdf