Archive by Author

Happy Wine Woman is the 2018 AAVWS Fellow

Introducing, in her own words, Simone Madden-Gray as the 2018 AAVWS Fellow… Alternative grape varieties are occupying a greater share of the national vineyard, creating an exciting contrast to the traditional Australian offering and the AAVWS Fellowship offers an essential insight into this next chapter of Australian wine history. In my role as owner of Happy […]

Meet the 2017 Fellow: Katie Spain

Wow. The Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show fellowship. What a great opportunity for a wine-obsessed storyteller. I am chuffed to jump aboard this juicy, alternative variety dreamboat. Ironically, I grew up surrounded by milk, not wine. I’ve pulled more udders than I’ve poured wine but a childhood spent on a dairy farm gave me an […]

Shavkapito – Coming Soon to a vineyard near you

The inaugural Sponsor-A-Variety has been selected – and the winner is Shavkapito which was nominated by Anna Hooper.  Not heard of it?  Neither had we.  But read on to see Anna’s application which piqued our interest and hopefully yours too… Shavkapito Nominated by Anna Hooper I am head winemaker at Cape Jaffa Wines in Mt Benson where […]

More Than Just a Talk Fest

We love to bandy about the claim that the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show is ‘More than just a wine show’ but what does that really mean? Well, of course we are in the (not-for-profit) business of critical assessment of wines against their peers in an unbiased environment.  This is undertaken each year by a […]

2001 – The beginning of an odyssey

After beginning as a Sangiovese Challenge in 1999 and an Australian Italian variety celebration in 2000, the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in it’s current form kicked off in 2001.  Here is a snapshot of what that first AAVWS entailed from the archive of event manager Helen Healy with observations from Inaugural Chief of Judges Tim White (both pictured)… […]

Meet the 2015 AAVWS Fellow

My name is Adam Walls and I have to say I am very much looking forward to the first weekend in November and the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show. I have been a lover of what we in term ‘alternative varieties’ for over a decade since I was lucky enough to tour Europe as a […]

The Original Long Italian Lunch & Sangiovese Awards

This is where it all started…  Pictured above are the founders of the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show; L-R Jenni Chalmers, Bruce Chalmers, Stefano de Pieri and the late Dr. Rod Bonfiglioli.  This shot was taken on the 6th November 1999 at the event which spawned the show, the Long Italian Lunch incorporating the Australian […]

Changing the World

“The massive impact the AAVWS has had on wine production and consumption in Australia over the last 15 years is now flowing overseas as alternative varieties breathe new life into the UK market and add colour and excitement to the Australian offering.”