President's Medal
Yalumba Wine Company in South Australia’s Barossa Valley has beaten some of Australia’s most famous farming dynasties to be named the best agricultural producer for 2011 by the RAS of NSW.
Click here to visit the RAS of NSW YouTube Channel and view Simon Marnie's (President's Medal Judge and ABC Sydney Presenter) visits to our exceptional finalists.
Yalumba Wine Company was presented with $10,000 in cash and the prestigious silver heritage President’s Medal at a gala dinner attended by Australia’s top food and wine aficionados at Sydney Showground. Glenn Dudley, President of the RAS, congratulated Yalumba Wine Company on being named the ‘best of the best’ in Australian agricultural production.
Yalumba Wine Company was awarded Champion status for their 2009 FSW8B Botrytis Viognier at the 2010 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show. From more than 100 Champion products across the Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Show it was then selected as one of the top 6 products to be eligible for the President’s Medal.
The six finalists nominated for this year’s award were selected from the 5,495 entries and 105 products that reached Champion status at the Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Shows. They were then judged on a whole-of-company approach incorporating all aspects of the business form production through to marketing and sustainability.
If you would like to know more about the President's Medal or are interested in attending the 2012 gala dinner please contact presidentsmedal@rasnsw.com.au.
The 2011 finalists:
Dairy
Country Valley Organic Milk (NSW)
Fonterra Australia Duck River Premium Butter (TAS)
Fine Food
Jelm Pastoral MSA Lamb - Grass Fed 20 - 23kg (NSW)
Cobram Estate Fresh & Fruity Extra Virgin Olive Oil (VIC)
Wine
Philip Shaw Wines The Idiot Shiraz 2009 by (NSW)
Yalumba Wine Company 2009 FSW8B Botrytis Viognier (SA)
The Judges:
Simon Marnie, ABC Radio
Scott Davenport , Chief Economist, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Mark Best, renowned Australian chef, Marque Restaurant
Tony De Thomasis - Senior Business Manager for special projects in fresh food, Woolworths Supermarkets.
What is the President's Medal?
Since it was established in 2006, the President’s Medal has recognised outstanding achievement in Australia’s food, wine and dairy industries, the best of the best.
The judging process begins with the 5,000 products that are submitted to the Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Shows each year. From those products the Show Champions are chosen, and the Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Committees select six of those Champions as finalists who are in the running for the President’s Medal.
Representatives from the judging panel, which includes eminently qualified experts from the food, restaurant and marketing trades visit each nominated producer. As well as the outstanding quality of their product, judges are scoring competitors for their passion, commitment, enthusiasm, environmental practices and pursuit of excellence.
The President’s Medal award ceremony takes place at a huge celebration dinner in Sydney attended by some of Australia’s best-known food and wine critics and connoisseurs, where the six finalists’ produce features on a menu designed especially for the occasion by some of Australia’s most acclaimed chefs.
The winner receives $10,000 and the prestigious silver heritage President’s Medal.
The President’s Medal is sponsored by Woolworths and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.