Agriculture
18 December, 2025
Fiano flavours finds success
WINE from the grapes of an “up and coming” variety in the region has taken out a top award at the inaugural People’s Choice Awards.
Newbridge Wines was awarded the trophy for best in the aromatic class for its Fiano 2025.
The Heathcote wine show was open to wineries from across central Victoria.
Winery owner Andrew Simpson said: “Fiano is an up-and-coming white wine which originates from southern Italy.
“It is particularly well-suited to the climate in the Bendigo Wine Region, yet it is still not widely grown,” he said.
“We planted the Fiano vines in 2018 and they have now developed into mature vines producing excellent fruit.”
Judges praised the Newbridge wine for its fine citrus nose.
“Bright and rounded on palate with a great mouth feel. Slightly smokey, cashewy with gentle apple and pear. A fresh and refreshing, smooth wine with loads of flavour. One of the more remarkable Fianos we’ve ever tried,” they said.
More than 40 wineries took part in The People’s Choice Wine Awards.
Organisers said a highly competitive field showcased the quality, depth and diversity of regional wineries across Bendigo, Heathcote, the Goulburn Valley and the Strathbogie Ranges wine region.
“Wine shows often celebrate technical perfection, but we wanted to know what people genuinely love to drink,” organiserDavid Smith said.
“There is often a gap between the wines that wine-loving consumers choose to drink, and the trophy winners at formal wine shows.
“The results show that alongside the emerging alternative and aromatic varieties, there remains plenty of appetite for big reds and fruit-driven whites,” he said.
Bridgewater’s Water Wheel 2022 Baringhup Shiraz was awarded a gold medal in the show.
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