Meat Greeting

Welcome to the online communication hub for the inaugural Wine Industry Smallgoods Smackdown. As our brief bio states, this is the premier competition for smallgoods production in the wine industry, and a chance to showcase meaty intent and smallgood competency, in a combative arena. The competition is born from a love of meat products, but also an understanding that many winemakers harbour a bloodlust for farmyard friends that results in hand-crafted deliciousness. This is a forum to showcase wares and to aim for the highest of peer accolades - it will be a spectacular showing of meat to which even Sydney's Mardi Gras may only lust for.

Smallgoods will be judged in a variety of categories, and all produce is welcomed to the competition. Smallgoods can be produced this year or a previous year, must be sent cryovac sealed, with details of some of the production and meat source. Here are two communications as sent to our media partner, TWTW (Australia's Wine Business Magazine):

“Seems that a lot of potential entrants are pleading for a stay of execution, of sorts, for their meat products – therefore we’ve decided to shift back the judging date to allow for those who have popped through vintage, have nothing to do and in boredom have begun eyeing off their kids’ petting zoo as potential dinner companions. Hence, we’re looking at late August/early September now for judging dates to allow for last farewells to beloved farmyard friends. An additional update, Artisans of the Barossa cellar door has kindly offered us some space to do the judging (when we lock in the date) and we will hope to show off the leftovers to interested parties following the verdicts. 

“We’ve had a great response so far with entrants from the Wild West (McHenry Hohnen – Ryan Walsh), the land of the two headed pig (Pete Caldwell – Dalrymple, Tasmania) and of course a genuine family feud is set to erupt between the D’Anna (Boccaccio, Hoddles Creek) brothers who are all entering separately – you’d think they would all be packing pretty similar meat. Likewise we’ve had a show of interest from your neighbours at Longview and threats from the Land of the Attractive Sheep of strapping smallgoods ‘Midnight Express’ style to Duncan Forsyth (Mt Edwar – Central Otago) – though only on the promise that if he gets busted at customs he won’t have to go through that awkward shower scene in the Turkish prison. 

“There are plenty more who have stepped up to the plate to say they are committing their meat to inspection, including Torzi, First Drop, Shobbrook, de Bortoli and Pizzini (and Fred is rounding up some of the King Valley ‘family’ to enter too). We’re keen to get more on board, especially considering the extension of the deadline for entries. Again, all meat to be cryovac sealed for freshness (and to preserve salmonella) and please email for more details. David Brookes is on the ground in the Barossa for those needing a shoulder to cry on when their beloved Porky gets quartered.”



And... 


"if you think you have the wine industry’s best sausage, you’ll be stimulated to know that scribe Mike Bennie has launched the Wine Industry Smallgoods Smackdown, a sausage/salami judging contest open to winemakers who produce smallgoods. The timing is immaculate with TV images of the state-of-the-art Indonesian abattoirs going to air just days ago. Mike will judge the sticks and sausages with Dave Brookes from Teusner and Nick Ryan. “As verified experts in all things small good we feel we represent the best cross-section of the wine industry to sort the wheat from the chaff of winemaker salami,” Mike said. “People have already voiced their intention to showcase their salami – the D’Anna brothers are keen to show us theirs, De Bortoli have thrown their weight around regarding the quality of their salumi, John Retsas says his sausage is the best and Adam Foster says though his is small its taste will win us over. But a word of warning – if your produce gives the judges runny bottoms or kills them or both, you will be disqualified.”


Thanks to TWTW for their support... more to follow...