Terms & Conditions

RULES & REGULATIONS 2025

Purpose

The ASWS exists to recognise excellence and encourage innovation among small wine producers. We understand that modern winemaking involves complex relationships—such as contract winemaking and shared facilities—that can blur the lines of eligibility. While it’s not possible to account for every unique case, the Show is strictly reserved for genuine small-scale winemaking operations. All production figures are subject to audit. This document, including the Schedule of Classes, forms the complete set of rules governing entries to the Australian Small Winemakers Show and by entering a wine exhibitors agree to be bound by the terms of these rules.

Key Definitions:

Winemaker - The person primarily responsible for producing the wine.

Viticulturist - The person primarily responsible for growing the majority of grapes used in the wine.

Winery - Any premises used to make and/or sell wine.

Show - The Australian Small Winemakers Show (ASWS).

Show Committee - The Wine Subcommittee of the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society, and responsible for organising and managing the ASWS.

Society - Stanthorpe Agricultural Society.

Baume - Refers to Apparent Baume.

1. General Eligibility

1.1 Production Limits

(a) Eligible winemakers/wineries must process less than 500 tonnes of grapes per year for their own label. If involved in contract winemaking for others, their combined total crush (own + contract) must not exceed 1000 tonnes.

(b) Wineries with multiple labels or brands must stay under the 500-tonne total limit across all labels they own.

1.2 Wine Type

Only commercially available wines may be entered. Barrel samples are not eligible.

1.3 Origin of Grapes

All wines entered in the Show must be made from grapes grown in Australia, at a winery located in Australia, and must conform with any relevant National, State and Regional legislation

1.4 State Trophies

To qualify for a State Trophy:

• The wine must be made in a State of Australia (ACT is considered part of NSW)
• At least 85% of the grapes must be grown in that State.

2. Entry Guidelines

2.1 Bottle Quantities

Each wine entry must include:

• 4 bottles (750ml or larger), OR
• 6 bottles (if under 750ml).

All bottles must be the same size as typically sold.
Entries with insufficient bottles will be disqualified

2. Labelling Commercial labels may be used.

2.3 Minimum Volumes

Unless specified below each wine entered must have at least

400 litres bottled by the time of entry.

• For Classes 81 and 82 no minimum volume applies.
• For Classes 88–91: the minimum is 50 litres bottled, with a total of 200 litres blended (bottle/barrel/tank).

2.4 Duplicate Entries

• A wine cannot be entered more than once, even if submitted by different exhibitors.
• The same wine with different closures is the same wine and so is not eligible as a separate entry.

2.5 Submission Process

• All entries must be submitted online via ShowRunner. (https://wineshow.awri.com.au/)
• Do not abbreviate grape variety names.
• By providing email addresses, entrants agree to receive Show-related communications.

2.6 Fees

• Entry fees must be paid in full before judging.
• Exhibitors are responsible for all freight, delivery costs, , and any related charges.
• Entry fees are non-refundable. In special cases, ASWS may offer free entries for a future Show at its discretion.

3.General Rules

3.1 Class Changes & Entry Review

• If a wine is entered in the wrong class, it may be reassigned to the correct one at the judges' discretion, if the class has not yet been judged.
• The Show Committee reserves the right to request additional information from exhibitors about their entries.

3.2 Trophy Eligibility

• To be considered for a trophy, a wine must be awarded a Gold medal during class judging.

3.3 Ownership of Exhibits

• Once received, all wine exhibits become the property of ASWS.
• Late entries will not be returned and are ineligible for judging.
• ASWS does not publicly or commercially sell any entered wine.

3.4 Judging Decisions

• All exhibitors agree to accept the decisions of the Judges and Chief Steward appointed by ASWS.
• Three judges will score each wine using the 100-point scale.

3.5 Audits & Inspections

ASWS reserves the right to inspect any entrant’s winery and records to verify that:

• The wine entered is the same wine as presented for judging.
• The wine was bottled before dispatch to the Show.
• The minimum volume requirements were met by the dispatch date.

3.6 Labelling Requirements

• All commercially labelled wines must comply with the Wine Australia Label Integrity Program.

3.7 Entry Class Requirements

(a) Single Variety Wines

• Wines made from a single grape variety (≥85%) may be entered into Classes 1–6, 8–12, 41–43, 46–57, & 84.

(b) Blended Wines

• Wines with <85% of a single variety or more than 15% of any additional variety must be entered into blend classes.
• Grape variety declarations:
• 0–15%: May be listed.
• >15%: Must be listed and entered in a blend class.
• For specific blend classes (e.g. Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz):

o   Each named variety must make up at least 5% of the blend.

• No more than 5% can come from varieties not named in the class.

3.8 Special Wine Class Descriptions

• Class 81 – Small Batch: Commercial wines produced in volumes of less than 400 litres.
• Class 82 – Student Entries: Open to students of Secondary Schools, TAFEs or Universities

·       No entry fee applies

·       Students must have contributed to grape growing and/or winemaking either partially or fully.

·       No Minimum volume required.

• Class 83 – Innovative Wine Styles: Wines featuring alternative methods such as:
• Wild/non-saccharomyces yeast
• Amphora or skin contact
• No/minimal sulphur, filtration, or fining
• Low/no alcohol, piquette, biodynamic/organic practices, etc.
• For eligibility questions, contact: chiefsteward@asws.com.au

• Class 86 – Pétillant Naturel (Pet-Nat):
• Wines that are partially fermented when bottled, continue to ferment in-bottle, and remain untouched until opened.

3.9 Class Schedule

• The Schedule of Classes is set and managed solely by the ASWS Committee.

3.10 Rule Interpretation

• Only the Show Committee has the authority to interpret these rules, and their decisions are final and binding on all exhibitors.

4. Delivery of Exhibits

4.1 Packaging

• Each carton must be clearly marked with:
• Exhibitor or winery name
• Carton number (e.g., 1/3, 2/3)
• If combining shipments from multiple wineries, list all winery names on the carton.

4.2 Delivery Deadline

• All wine exhibits must arrive by Friday, 10 October 2025. Wine arriving after this time is not guaranteed entry.

4.3 Delivery Responsibility

• ASWS is not responsible for undelivered entries.
• All freight, duties, and delivery costs must be prepaid by the exhibitor.
• Wines arriving with unpaid charges will be disqualified.

5. Awards

5.1 Certificates & Trophies

• Winners will receive certificates, plaques, or trophies.
• Please provide the exact commercial name of your wine and winery name for these awards.
• If ASWS makes a spelling or formatting error, it will be corrected at no cost.
• If the error is due to incorrect information from the exhibitor, the exhibitor bears the cost of corrections.
• All errors must be reported within 14 days of receiving your award materials.

5.2 Judging & Scoring

• Judging will occur from Saturday 18 October to Tuesday 21 October 2025.
• Awards will be based on the following scoring:
• Gold Medal: 95 points and above
• Silver Medal: 90–94 points
• Bronze Medal: 85–89 points

5.3 Trophy Awards

Trophies will be awarded as follows:

Major Trophies

• Champion Australian Small Winery
• Awarded to the winery with the highest total score from three wines entered in three different classes.
• In the event of a tie, the next highest scoring wines from each winery will be considered progressively, regardless of class, until a winner is determined.
• Dick DeLuca Memorial Trophy – Champion Shiraz
• Awarded to the top Gold Shiraz.

·       Shiraz Wines in the relevant classes achieving Top Gold Medal status qualify for trophy judging. All eligible Top Gold Medal wines will be re-assessed by the Judges to determine the Champion Shiraz wine.Preben Jacobsen Memorial Stewards' Choice Award

• Selected by the show stewards as their favourite wine of the show.

• Champion Winemaker
• Awarded to the winemaker responsible for the Champion Red Wine in 2025.
• Champion Viticulturist
• Awarded to the grower of grapes used in the Champion White Wine in 2025.

Trophies

(All require a Gold Medal to qualify for trophy judging)

• Champion Red Wine
• Champion White Wine
• Champion Rosé Wine
• Champion Sparkling Wine
• Champion Fortified Wine

State Awards

(All require a Gold Medal to qualify for trophy judging)

• Best Queensland White Wine
• Best Queensland Red Wine
• Best NSW/ACT White Wine
• Best NSW/ACT Red Wine
• Best Tasmanian White Wine
• Best Tasmanian Red Wine
• Best Victorian White Wine
• Best Victorian Red Wine
• Best South Australian White Wine
• Best South Australian Red Wine
• Best Western Australian White Wine
• Best Western Australian Red Wine

 Special Trophies

• Best School Produced Wine
• Awarded to the top scoring entry in Class 82.
• In the event of a tie, the Chair of Judges may either:
• Award the trophy jointly, or
• Conduct a judge-off to select a single winner.

6. Travel Awards

Award Details

• A $1,500 cash prize is awarded to:
• The Champion Winemaker
• The Champion Viticulturist
• Purpose: To support professional development through travel, such as:
• Visiting another wine region
• Attending conferences or training events
• Joining a study tour
• Participating in a work placement

Purpose & Recognition

These awards acknowledge the challenges faced by small producers, such as:

• Limited access to training and development opportunities
• Distance from major wine events
• Financial constraints
• The importance of hands-on learning and inspiration in the workplace

Conditions

• The award is given to the individual, not their business.
• Funds cannot be used for marketing-related travel.
• Winners may claim the full or partial amount of the award.
• Funds must be claimed within 12 months, unless an extension is granted by ASWS.

• Recipients must provide details for:
• A profile story in the next year’s Entry Kit
• Media coverage as required by ASWS

7. Disqualifications

Entries from disqualified exhibitors will be void and the entry fee and wine will be forfeited.  If a wine is disqualified after judging, all awards (medals, prizes, trophies) must Be returned to ASWS and Not be used or displayed by the exhibitor.

An entry may be disqualified under the following conditions:

• Breaking any regulation may result in disqualification from the current Show and future Shows
• Failure to fully co-operate with an audit
• Failure to Pass the audit

8. Protests

• Protests must be submitted:
• Within 7 days of the award announcement
• In writing (email or fax accepted)
• The decisions of the Judges and Chief Steward are final
• While no discussion or correspondence will be entered into, the reasoning behind judges’ decisions will be provided

9. Cancellation of the Show

• If the Show is partially or fully cancelled, for any reason:
• The exhibitor may not seek compensation or damages from:
• The ASWS Show Committee
• The Stanthorpe Agricultural Society

• This applies to all areas of law, including:
• Contract law
• Tort
• Statute law
• The exhibitor acknowledges that:
• The Show Committee is not obligated to hold a Show in any year
• This clause serves as a complete legal defence for the Show Committee and Society

10. ASVO Protocols

• The Show is open only to exhibitors who follow the AGW Code of Conduct
  Australian Grape & Wine Incorporated (AGW)

Audit Procedures

• The ASWS adheres to the ASVO Wine Show Best Practice Recommendations
• 1% of all entries are audited each year
• Any non-compliance is penalised
• All entrants must comply with any requests or directions from the auditors
  More info: www.asvo.com.au/wineshows

11. Information & Changes

• While ASWS takes care to ensure all published information is accurate, changes may occur at short notice
• ASWS is not liable for any damages or issues resulting from such changes

 

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