This is your last chance to have your wines assessed by 26 of Australia’s leading experts at the 2025 Royal Queensland Awards (RQA), supported by King Street.
At the helm of this year’s awards is newly appointed chief judge, Julian Langworthy, one of the country’s most respected winemakers.
With over 25 years’ experience spanning vintages across France, Canada and Australia – including more than a decade in Western Australia’s renowned Margaret River – Julian is set to bring a fresh perspective to the judging team.
The awards provide the first major opportunity for producers to showcase their freshly bottled 2024 reds and 2025 whites, with judging to commence in late June at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Mr Langworthy said the RQAs are an integral part of the capital city wine show circuit.
“I am hugely excited to lead an excellent and diverse range of experienced judges to assess and award the entries,” he says.
“They hail from all over the country, and from many walks of wine life including winemakers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, retailers, journalists and educators.
“This diversity of judging experience helps cast a broad net enabling us to find the very best wines from across the spectrum of style.”
Panel chair Sue Bell says Australian wine producers should enter “to receive feedback on your wines early in the wine show circuit year from a group of highly experienced judges”.
Ari McCamley, chair of the RQA organising committee, said, “Our commitment is to facilitate the rigorous peer assessment of entries in an objective blind-tasting environment that is a signature of the Australian wine show system.
“Within a fortnight from the results announcement, we will provide the exhibitor of each wine statistical analysis of its performance within its class along with the assessing panel chair’s written feedback.”
In addition to meaningful expert feedback, the RQA offers more than $20,000 in prizes, recognising excellence and supporting professional development in the industry.
The esteemed Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show winner will receive a $12,000 fellowship to advance their knowledge within the national and international wine industry.
The Dr Bill Ryan Best Pinot Noir of Show comes with a $5,000 bursary, while the Best Small Batch Wine of Show will take home a new $2,000 prize.
The Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year, presented by The Star, will receive a $1,500 bursary and see their wines featured in The Star’s venues.
The 2025 competition will debut a Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine of Show trophy, alongside new classes for Low Alcohol and De-Alcoholised wines, due to growth in this segment of the industry.
With judging just around the corner, now is the time for winemakers to be part of one of Australia’s most prestigious wine competitions.
Entries close Tuesday 3 June 2025. Submit your entries now at www.rqa.com.au.
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