FLYING AHEAD OF THE FIELD
Clare Allen, Busselton Margaret River Times
Seven of Flying Fish Cove's eight entries took medals at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
The Dunsborough label took on more than 450 Australian wineries and came home with a collection of gold, silver and bronze medals.
General manager Brett House said he believed the show was arguably one of the country's toughest wine shows.
"We were pretty chuffed this year and a highlight was being awarded gold in the one-year-old Shiraz class; it was quite remarkable,'' he said.
"I think it is a credit to our wine making team of Damon Eastaugh and Harry Clegg who weave their magic on our fantastic fruit.''
The business began in 2001 as a specialist contracting facility producing wine for 20 other labels in the region.
In 2003 it launched its own brand and cellar door.
Mr House said its main business was still contract but the brand was a "nice little sideline'' for them.
Flying Fish Cove produces 2300 tonnes, with about a 10 per cent share of the Margaret River market, he said.
The 14-man operation has established a winning reputation with awards for many of its clients' varieties and its own.
The gold medal-winning 2005 Shiraz was also promoted to the taste-off for the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne show.
"It is usually quite difficult for a Margaret River Shiraz to do well against the warmer regions' varieties and produce a big, inky shiraz,'' Mr House said.
"We were all sat on the edge of our seats waiting to hear the announcement, because a win like that can be worth a great deal of marketing.''
The company also claimed silvers with their 2005 Cabernet Merlot and 2004 Cabernet Merlot.
