Inaugural Puglisi award goes to Tassie

The story went a little off script on Friday when the "father of Queensland wine” handed out an inaugural award in his honour at the Royal Queensland Wine Show.

FIRST CAB OFF RANK: Giant Steps Wine representative Dom Robinson with some of their many awards, including the prestigious Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show. Picture: Contributed

THE story went a little off script on Friday when the "father of Queensland wine” handed out an inaugural award in his honour at the Royal Queensland Wine Show.

Had fate been kind, Angelo Puglisi would have been presenting the Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show to someone from his beloved Granite Belt region.

Instead, a Tasmanian Pinot Noir scooped the accolade. It was also the first red wine to win the wine of show in six years.

Angelo and his wife of 50 years, Mary, were presented their first winemaking gold medal 45 years ago at the RQWS.

"The Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 is a top drop. Chief Judge Jim Chatto reckoned as soon as he tasted it, it was going to be a tough one to beat,” Mr Puglisi said.

Angelo Puglisi in his beloved vineyard. Picture: DEIRDRE SMITH

The Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show award is a perpetual acknowledgement to Puglisi's influence and respect in the industry.

"This is such an honour for me, my family and the Queensland winemaking fraternity,” Mr Puglisi said.

"We've come a long way since the '60s, when my neighbours warned me that the vineyard would fail because only wogs drank wine in Queensland.”

According to Ballandean's Mike Hayes, chief winemaker at Sirromet Wines: "The Puglisi family, I believe, embody the Queensland fighting spirit like few others.”