The King Valley wine region has triumphed this year in more ways than one, at the 2025 North East Victorian Wine Challenge (NEVWC) held last week.

This year's top honour, Best Wine of Show, was awarded to King River Estate's Flying Duck 2024 Shiraz, produced in the King Valley by John and Karen Butler, with winemaker Dennis Clarke.

The wine was named Best Red Table Wine, and John Butler also received the Viticulturist of Show trophy, helping the King Valley achieve the NEVWC Wine Challenge Shield for the first time.

Chief of judges, Steve Flamsteed, praised the calibre of entries this year, noting the increasingly sophisticated approach to regional expression.

Across 315 entries from North East Victorian regions including the King Valley, Alpine Valleys, Rutherglen, Beechworth and Glenrowan, 50 different varieties were represented.

Karen and John Butler have owned the Flying Duck block in the King Valley since 2001, where growing grapes to make wine began as a hobby.

The shiraz vines were planted in 1998, and the vineyard was named Flying Duck due to the abundance of ducks at the property.

Their boutique vineyard of 10 acres includes two acres of shiraz, with sangiovese and prosecco also grown, and they began to sell Flying Duck as a brand, before purchasing the much larger King River Estate property in 2018, where they showcase both ranges from the cellar door.

"We've grown both operations and are making a lot of wine of different varieties, but shiraz has always been a standout," said John.

"The block has produced very good fruit over a number of years and is very popular with the locals - we sell out of it every year."

John said the property is not irrigated which means the vines find their own way down to water, making them more resilient, and if they produce more fruit than necessary, some will be dropped to concentrate the flavour in what is left.

The site, sitting at an elevation of 165 metres above sea level, is subject to the usual viticultural and climactic challenges, and John said they don't make shiraz unless they're sure it's a good year.

This year they were one of a few local wineries who suffered the impacts of a late spring frost in parts of their vineyards - the impact of which is still to be assessed - but they made a 2025 vintage this year which they are confident will be a good one again.

John said it was the first time they've entered the challenge, having been encouraged by Wines of the King Valley to take part, and it something they intend to do again.

He said they were unfortunately unable to attend the announcement but were thrilled to hear the results - as acknowledgement of their own efforts and for the King Valley as a whole - and they thanked the challenge organisers and judges for their considerable time and effort in creating the event.

Other winners included Chrismont for Best Prosecco Wine, Eminence for Best Sparkling Wine, vignerons Schmolzer & Brown for Best White Table Wine, for a 2024 Whitlands Chardonnay.

Wines of the King Valley president Dean Cleave-Smith said the results from the show overall reflect the innovation and passion of the growers and wine makers across the King Valley and the makers who source grapes from King Valley growers.

"An outstanding score of 171 for King Valley is a testament to the quality of King Valley grapes and wines across vintages and on behalf of all King Valley growers and producers, we are honoured to be awarded the North East Victorian Wine Challenge Shield," he said.

"I am thrilled to see King River Estate be awarded Best Red Table Wine and Best Wine of Show for their King River Estate Flying Duck 2024 Shiraz and I congratulate John Butler and Dennis Clarke on this award and see this as great recognition for their sustained pursuit of quality."

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King Valley in brief

Moyhu Idle Chatters group

THE Idle Chatters Group meets on the first Monday of every month at 10am at Ineeta's Café in Moyhu.

All are welcome to come and meet and chat with others in the community over a coffee, with the next meeting on Monday, 1 December and more information available by contacting Max Baker on 5727 9376.

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King Valley Arts Film Club screening

THE King Valley Arts Film Club will launch its fourth season of the club at the Cheshunt Hall cinema on Tuesday, 9 December.

Members are invited to bring family and friends to this free first screening of the fourth season, with delicious nibbles and drinks to be provided as part of the special, end of year celebration.

To honour the very first film club feature, Rear Window, the December movie will be another Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, North By Northwest (1959).

Doors open at 7pm for the 7.30pm screening at the Cheshunt Hall cinema.

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Christmas celebration at Whitfield Recreation Reserve

The Whitfield Recreation Reserve committee will host a community Christmas Party on Sunday, 21 December from 6pm at the reserve, with all welcome to attend.

There will be live music and entertainment for children, with meats, salads and soft drinks provided (BYO alcoholic drinks) and Santa is also expected to make an appearance.

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