The ASVO is a non-political organisation which promotes the exchange of technical information in the industry. It has long played an important role in the Australian wine show system, including the establishment of the ASVO Best Practice Recommendations (BPRs)

“In a rapidly evolving global wine industry environment the 2020 ASVO Wine Show Best Practice Recommendations provide the requisite guidance to ensure the running and judging of Australian wine shows remains world class”
Andy Gregory, Chair of the National Wine Show of Australia

 

The development of the 2020 ASVO Wine Show Best Practice Recommendations was a rigorous process that took nearly a year, with many conversations, consultations, subcommittees, meetings and drafts. We drew comments and information formally and informally from the wider show system, networks and organisations. During the consultation process we were pleased with the level of use of and engagement by shows with the previous version of BPR’s.The advisory committee of 17 represented all the wine show system, the exhibitors, the organisers, the critics and the judges from around Australia.

The recommendations reflect the evolution over the last five years and introduce and expand on topics including judge diversity, hygiene requirements, term of appointment of judges, relaxation on the minimum volume required to exhibit, and the removal of award transferability. The document has also been revised to become a more succinct, easier to read set of recommendations. Where differences of opinion exist across the industry, the recommendations reflect the debate and will continue to evolve in time.

Ms Louisa Rose, Chair of the ASVO Wine Show Technical Advisory Committee

 

Download 2020 BPR

History

Since the first wine awards, held in NSW in 1836, the agricultural societies and the wine industry have worked together on the structure and conduct of wine shows. In more recent times there have been a series of committees and seminars that have sought to express an overall industry view of best practice for conducting a wine show. As the industry, wine style and fashions evolve, so do the wine shows. Since 1986, the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) has been part of this evolution, helping to define best practices in all aspects of the system; from the grapes and GI to the consumer.

Notable time points include:

As previous reviews have identified, at any point in time there will be some practices where consensus can be reached, and others where there are differing opinions. Both ends of this spectrum are important, allowing for a vibrant and healthy system where there is both commonality and differences between the shows and competitions. Importantly, these best practices give all stakeholders, from the exhibitor to the imbiber confidence in the quality of the results.  We hope that this document will be used by the industry to encourage practices in the organisation and judging of all shows that are robust and have integrity while leaving the shows the flexibility to express their own ‘personality’ and ‘character’. Ideally it will also be a platform for the shows and the industry to communicate to trade and consumers the rigour of the show system and the quality of the wines that receive awards. The goal with trade and consumers is to have them respect the show system as one of the best sources of reliable information about the diversity and quality of Australian wines.

Committee

Members of the Wine show technical advisory committee (TAC) are selected to represent a wide range of industry interests. Members invited include large and small companies, a range of geographic origins, trade, press, links to wine show committees, and links to the 2004 and 2015 ASVO committee.The primary objective of this group is to develop a single document that expresses current industry views on what constitutes best practice in the Australian Wine Show system including guidelines and recommendations. 

2019-20 Wine Show Technical Advisory Committee members.