Images: Bottle Shock / Provided
A six month blind wine tasting league is set to kick off in the Clare Valley next week, with head to head rounds, a live ladder and a $5k grand prize up for grabs at the end of the league.
Organiser Bren Carter is one of the the creators behind Bottle Shock, a venture from the team behind Unico Zelo, Applewood Distillery and the popular Bottle Shock YouTube channel.
Located in Gumeracha, the hosts encourage its audience to focus on what is in the glass rather than the brand by tasting wines without seeing the labels.
He said the concept for the blind wine tasting league was born after a successful 3-month league last year, which attracted around 160 entrants.
The first round will take place inside the historic underground cellar at Knappstein Wines on Saturday July 11. It will mark the opening event of the biggest league yet, with competitors earning points towards December’s grand final.
Participants will have nothing but black tasting glasses and their senses to identify what’s in the glass.
Carter said that the Clare Valley was chosen to launch the league as a deliberate nod to regional South Australia and its reputation for producing world-class Riesling.
“We thought, rather than just have people continually coming up to Gumeracha and the Adelaide Hills, could we go out to regions?” he said.
“At the end of the day, wine is made in regional areas, it’s not made in urban areas.”
The league expands the competition into a six-month season, with regional cups planned for Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Barossa, and the Adelaide Hills.
Rather than rewarding a single standout performance, Bren said that the league would encourage consistency, with competitors banking points at each event throughout the season.
“If someone rocks up and attends all of them, they’re going to have the highest points ranking to get into the grand final,” he said.
“People who play from the start build the biggest lead.”
He said the event is for wine lovers of all levels of experience, and was keen to dispel the myth that blind tasting is only for industry professionals.
“In fact, last year’s winner was a bacteriologist who just happened to like wine,” he said.
“Anyone that enjoys wine at home with friends has probably just as much chance to win this as any industry member.”
Only 40 competitor spots are available for the Clare Valley Cup, although spectators are also welcome to attend and watch the action unfold.
When: Saturday 11 July, 11am to 5pm
Where: Knappstein Winery, 2 Pioneer Ave, Clare SA (for the first event)
To sign up and find out more, click here.
