Rebel Wilson shows off her Ninja skills on the Graham Norton Show0:29
Aussie actress Rebel Wilson shows off her Ninja skills on The Graham Norton Show with a set of nunchucks. Courtesy: BBC/The Graham Norton Show
Graham Norton with his award winning Shiraz — a gold medallist at the Sydney International Wine Festival. Picture: Supplied
BRIT TV personality Graham Norton may have slammed Australia’s participation in Eurovision last year, but that hasn’t stopped him from entering — and doing rather well in the Sydney International Wine Competition.
The 53-year-old was “tickled pink” by the success of his Australian-produced Shiraz and “Pink By Design” Rose, that picked up gold and blue gold medals respectively at the hotly contested event.
This year judges ploughed through 1911 wines from eight countries, and awarded just under 400 medals.
Tim Lightbourne who worked with Norton on the drops, said he wanted to show the wines were actually very good and not just about marketing.
Graham Norton’s post quipped that his “Pink by Design” Rose brings all the boys to the yard. Picture: InstagramSource:Instagram
“People are buying the wines for the Graham Norton label but they’re returning for more because of the quality,” said the New Zealand-based wine producer.
“He’s actually got a really good palette and he takes it quite seriously, a lot different to the Graham you see on TV.”
Despite Norton’s call for Australia to be banned from Eurovision, Mr Lightbourne said he wasn’t being a hypocrite by entering the Sydney contest.
“These competitions are open worldwide,” he said.
“Those comments he made about Australia in Eurovision were kind of a bit of fun although some people did take it seriously.”
Chairman of Judges Kym Milne MW, said it would have been “churlish” to exclude Mr Norton’s wines based on his past comments on Australia.
“The Sydney International is just that, it’s open to wines from all around the world. We get a number of French champagnes entering, we get some wines from Italy, sometimes some Spanish wines, all sorts really,” said Mr Milne.
“So it’s open to all comers.”
Graham Norton’s Shiraz is produced from grapes grown in South Australia. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
It was not Mr Norton’s first foray into winemaking having produced a very popular Sauvignon Blanc in 2015 which is now served in Qantas Business Class.
“The Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc will be sold nationwide through Woolworths and the Rose actually as well,” said Mr Lightbourne.
“The Shiraz in particular will be a hit in the northern hemisphere because the winter’s are pretty cold and people are often after a heavy solid red.”
Mr Milne said it was no mean feat for a wine to win a medal at the Sydney International which attracted entries from supermarkets as well as boutique vineyards.
“All the wines are tasted with food, and the judges have no idea who made them or where they’re from,” he said.
“To win a blue gold medal means they’re in the top 200 and a gold is in the top 300.”