Manjimup-based Peos Estate has picked up a gold medal at the 2008 RSM Bird Cameron Timber Towns Regional Wine Show – their seventh top honour at the WA event in three years.

On Thursday February 7, Manjimup again played host to the Show which is now in its fourth year and brings together three of the newest wine regions in Australia – Blackwood Valley, Manjimup and Pemberton.

In a demonstration of the growing popularity of Manjimup as a wine producing region, Peos Estate won Best White Wine and Best Chardonnay of the Show for their Four Aces Chardonnay 2007.

Peos Estate’s Vic Peos said these most recent successes follow a number of others over the past two years.

“Last year, we took out the trifecta, winning Best White, Best Chardonnay and Best Wine of the Show with our 2005 Four Aces Chardonnay,” he explained.

“And in 2006, we won Best Shiraz and Best Red with our 2004 Four Aces Shiraz, so it shows we’re delivering consistency in both our red and white wines.”

The 2008 Show also saw the winery collect a Silver Medal for their Unwooded Chardonnay 2007 and a Bronze for their Peos Estate WA Pinot Noir 2006.

Presented by the Rotary Club of Manjimup, Vic said the Show was a critical platform for Manjimup winemakers to showcase their wares.

“Manjimup wines are still somewhat of a well-kept secret – even within WA – and the region is still relatively small, but they are increasing in popularity and the future is incredibly bright,” he said.

“As Margaret River has become more of a tourist mecca, people are discovering Manjimup to be a more secluded experience and realising that not only is the area just as beautiful, but the quality of our white and reds is also on par.

“There’s little doubt Manjimup’s wines are beginning to make a name for themselves.”

Late last year, three Peos Estate wines took out awards at the Australian Small Winemakers Show – the most prestigious show for small winemakers in Australia and New Zealand.

The event was held late last year in Stanthorpe, Queensland, with our 2005 Four Aces Chardonnay winning a Gold Medal in the 2005 vintage and older category, scoring 56 points out of a possible 60. The Peos Estate WA Pinot Noir 2006 was awarded a Bronze Medal and our Four Aces Shiraz 2005 took out a Bronze Medal.

Vic said this year’s harvest looked promising, thanks to perfect weather conditions.

“The reds in particular look great for 2008, “ he said, “the rains before Christmas were excellent and were followed by dry, warm-to-hot conditions early in the new year which has seen good healthy canopy’s with ripening up to one and a half weeks early.”

*Peos Estate’s Four Aces range of wines is named after a row of karri trees in Manjimup that are more than 300 years old.

Peos Estate – Backgrounder

Peos Estate’s history is a tale of tradition that begins in 1926 when PY Peos, who came from a viticultural background growing grapes on small plots and producing wine in Macedonia, arrived in Manjimup.

Initially finding work as a sleepercutter, he eventually moved back into farming, recognising the magnificent rich soils the south-west WA town had to offer. Originally, the Peos family farmed everything from tobacco, to dairy, beef and vegetables until ultimately they returned to their Macedonian routes and moved into grape and wine production.
In 1996, the four Peos brothers (PY’s grandsons) – Vic, John, Con and Chris – banned together to create their dream vineyard on Graphite Road. With a climate remarkably similar to Bordeaux in the Gironde region of France, Manjimup is also blessed with consistent rainfall for most of the year. The combination of hot days, cool nights and high altitude makes it ideal for producing grapes boasting rich flavour enhancement and skin colour. The soil at Peos Estate is jarrah gravel over red clay-loam – a hungrier soil that vines love and which produces fruit with intensity.
With future generations in mind, the Peos Estate philosophy is to concentrate on enhancing the quality of the fruit and flavours and feeding their passion – wine – in all its forms.

Manjimup – The Wine Region

In the mid 1970’s WA’s Department of Agriculture began looking in earnest at the Manjimup region. By the mid 80’s, detailed climatic research identified Manjimup as the most suitable grape growing region in Western Australia. The ideal conditions of warm, dry summers and wet, cool winters, coupled with a pristine environment, provided perfect conditions for ultra premium wine production.
Early faith in establishing the Manjimup Wine Region has been justified by the fact that the Manjimup Wine Region now has several world class wineries and is set ot have a prominent future in the Western Australian wine industry.

Peos Estate – Contact Details

Peos Estate Wines
Graphite Road, West Manjimup
P.O Box 89 Manjimup, Western Australia, 6258
Phone: +61 8 97721378
Facsimile: +61 8 97721372
Email: info@peosestate.com.au

www.peosestate.com.au

Peos Estate wines can be bought online and a full list of stockists is available at www.peosestate.com.au also.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sarah Hayward, The Answer Agency
(08) 9388 9280
0411 404 415

Natalie Papadopoulos, The Answer Agency
(08) 9388 9280
0407 984 435
natalie@theansweragency.com