200 Years of Excellence: Inside the Sydney Royal Wine Show

Send us Fan MailFor most wine drinkers, a wine show is something that happens in the background.A medal on a bottle. A trophy announced at an awards dinner. A score that helps guide a purchasing decision.But behind those medals sits one of the most important institutions in Australian wine.This year, the Sydney Royal Wine Show celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 200 years since wine was first included in the competitions of what would become the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. Over those two centuries, the show has helped benchmark quality, foster excellence, train future judges, and contribute to the development of the Australian wine industry.Few people understand that world better than Sally Evans.A long-serving Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, former Steward-in-Chief, former Chair of the Sydney Royal Wine Committee, and one of the Sydney Royal's most passionate advocates, Sally has spent decades helping shape and support one of Australia's most respected wine competitions.In this conversation, we explore the history of the Sydney Royal Wine Show, how wine judging actually works, what happens behind the scenes during judging week, and why wine shows continue to matter in an increasingly competitive wine market.Most importantly, we discuss the role wine shows play in bringing people together, sharing knowledge, encouraging excellence, and helping shape the future of Australian wine.So, as the Sydney Royal Wine Show celebrates its bicentenary and prepares for the Sydney Royal 200 Symposium, please enjoy my conversation with Sally Evans.Support the show