Shiraz glasses lined up for tasting and judging. Twenty six-year old wines will be showcased this year.
Camera IconShiraz glasses lined up for tasting and judging. Twenty six-year old wines will be showcased this year. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Will Nairn’s International Peel Estate Great Shiraz Tasting on September 2

John JensEastern Reporter

LET us assume WA has the world’s most isolated quality wine industry.

As a result, it has developed over the decades its own culture which both promotes this state’s finest and benchmarks them against the finest from the rest of the world. Just one of these wonderful cultural themes has stemmed from the now well-established international 20-wine tastings that Cape Mentelle initially hosted for cabernet sauvignon starting in 1982, which was then followed by the Cullen International Chardonnay Tasting, Will Nairn’s Peel Estate Great Shiraz Tasting and Howard Park’s esteemed 20-wine pinot noir horizontal.

Each of these tastings involves many of the local or visiting winemakers and a smattering of the wine press, many of which are from either the national or international wine stages.

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These wonderful tasting days always culminate in a laid-back lunch, to which guests who have not attended the tasting, can be invited to join the celebration of the marvellous wines shown.

Will Nairn’s International Peel Estate Great Shiraz Tasting is held on the first Saturday of September each year, which this year falls on September 2 at 10.30am.

It is one of my most relaxing days each year, starting with a sturdy breakfast and then a peaceful 40-minute drive to the Peel Estate winery and parklands at Baldivis.

Nearly 2500 Riedel wine glasses are meticulously laid out on the many white-clothed tables.

The 20 wines are served in masked brackets of seven, and they invariably include the who’s who of Australia, New Zealand, Italy and France.

Each year, of course, Penfolds Grange is a fixture. And then, overlooking the vineyard, the three-course lunch begins with more bottles of the wines that have been served at the tasting.

The guest speaker list towards the end of the meal is made up of the Australian shiraz and wine journalist elite.

The all-inclusive price for the tasting and following lunch is $320, or a lunch-only ticket is $150.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Peel Estate on 9524 1221 or emailing peelwine@iinet.net.au.