Both the Honey Estates, Clare Valley, Port Douglas Heritage wines were exhibited at the Cairns Wine Show on Saturday 25 June, competing against 29 other wines in the Riesling category and 169 wines in the Shiraz category.

The Riesling missed out on a Bronze Medal by just 1.5 points and the Shiraz missed the Bronze Medal by just a single point.  In fact both wines were only 11 points behind the Gold winner scores in each category. 

Interestingly, both the winners were fellow Clare Valley producers. Eldredge Vineyards 2010 in the Riesling category and a Taylor Wines 2010 production called 'Promised Land'.

As for the Port Douglas selections, the best description of their performance is, 'so close but no cigar'.  However not a bad showing for this, the first year of these two specially selected Watervale, Clare Valley productions.

'The Port Douglas' Riesling beat such luminaries as Kirrihill Wines Single Vineyard, Diamond Creek Estate and Harcourt Valley Vineyards.

The judges commented that the Shiraz category was a very "Strong class" this year with the Port Douglas Shiraz beating off challenges from St Hallets Wines, Wyndham Estate, McLaren Vale, Taylors Wines 'Eighty Acres' and Lucas Estates 'The Gordon'.

A crowd of over 250 thirsty wine enthusiasts visited the show throughout the afternoon at the Cairns Showground and there was great interest in these exclusive Honey Estate productions.

The Chair of the Show, Andrew Corrigan made a special visit to the stall to express his thanks to these first time exhibitors.

Darry Honey, owner of Honey Estates and inspiration behind these wines said, "A medal would have been nice at our first try but coming this close means we are on the right track. We'll be back next year!"