Classes

Only bottled, finished commercially available wines will be considered. A minimum of 25 cases must have been produced to be eligible and all straight varietal classes must have minimum of 85% of that varietal.

White

1  Sparkling White made from white grapes made by traditional method, petillant naturel, col Fondo, charmat or carbonation. PLEASE NOTE *Moscato wines from alternative muscat varieties, for example moscato giallo, that is sweet and slightly sparkling should be entered into Class 36.

2  Arneis

3  Vermentino 

Fiano 

5  Pecorino

6  Viognier 

7  White Rhone Varieties for straight varietal wines other than viognier such as marsanne or roussanne (minimum 85%).

8  Pinot Blanc / Bianco

9  Gewürztraminer

10  Grüner Veltliner

11  Other White Varietal Wines might include, but not limited to, albarino, savagnin, assyrtiko, bianco d’Alessano, garganega, greco, müller-Thurgau, verdejo, verdicchio, schönburger or verduzzo. Must be labelled a varietal wine with Minimum 85% of a single variety. Blends including these varieties should go into the White Blends Class 12.

12 White Blends (minimum 85% alternative varieties)

Red

13  Sparkling Rose may include wines such as traditional method brut rosé style sparkling wines or pink pet-nat wines made from a combination of red and white grapes. 

14  Rose

15  Sparkling Red deeper red sparkling made from red grapes.  Wine can be made by traditional method, petillant naturel, col fondo, charmat or carbonation. 

16 Sangiovese 

17  Nebbiolo

18  Barbera

19  Sagrantino

20  Aglianico

21  Montepulciano

22  Nero d’Avola 

23  Other Red Italian Varietal Wines might include, but not limited to, lagrein, dolcetto, teroldego, marzemino, negroamaro or refosco. This class is for wines labelled as straight varietal wines. Blends including these varieties should go into the Red Blends Class 35.

24  Tempranillo 

25  Mataro / Mourvedre / Monastrell

26  Graciano

27  Mencia

28  Other Red Iberian Varietal Wines might include, but not limited to, mencia, sousão, tinta cão or touriga nacional. This class is for wines labelled as straight varietal wines. Blends including these varieties should go into the Red Blends Class 35.

29  Durif

30  Malbec

31  Cabernet Franc

32  Zinfandel / Primitivo

33  Saperavi

34  Other Red Varietal Wines not Italian (enter class 23) or Iberian (enter class 28). Varieties might include, but not limited to, petit verdot, blaufrankisch, chambourcin, carmenere, cinsault, gamay, pinotage, St Laurent, tarrango, alicante bouschet, Saint Macaire or tannat. Must be labelled a varietal wine with Minimum 85% of a single variety. Blends including these varieties should be entered into Class 35.

35  Red Blends (minimum 85% alternative varieties)

Other

36  Sweet style wines might include late harvest, botrytis, ice-wine, partial drying or appassimento-style and cane-cut but NOT fortifieds, which have their own class (class 40). Varieties might include, but not limited to, hárslevelü, malvasia Istriana, orange muscat, picolit, trebbiano and viognier. PLEASE NOTE *Moscato wines are only eligible if made from an alternative muscat variety, for example moscato giallo or orange muscat.

37  Fortifieds styles and varieties might include, but not limited to, palomino, pedro ximenez, touriga, apera or  vermouth-styles.

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.”