The categories that received the most entries were Sauvignon blanc and Rosé, followed by Shiraz. Overall, there were more white wines entered compared to red. The Spirit category was dominated by gin, as expected, followed by Grappa and Rum.

The Sauvignon blanc wines showed a diversity of styles. The nose of the wines ranged from tinned peas, asparagus to the more exotic and tropical notes. Most of the wine had vibrant acidity and balance. The tasters commented that consumers are becoming more experimental. Where Sauvignon blanc was the go-to wine for wine evenings, younger consumers might try Chenin blanc or other wines they have not tasted before.

Chenin blanc as category seem to continue showing well at tastings. Most of the 2021 wines were packed with freshness and flavour. The wooded examples were well made, with some showing lots of complexity. The tasters generally agreed that price is a huge factor when deciding what wine to buy, and Chenin blanc is a front runner in that category.

All the tasters agreed that the ABC (Anything but Chardonnay) movement is not present among younger consumers anymore.

The tendency towards drier rosé wines with good acidity serves the Rosé / Blanc de noir category well. Many of these wines tend to be on a lighter colour spectrum ranging from a slight blush to salmon. The wines, in general, had good acidity and were invitingly elegant with good balance. Some quality contenders shook up this customarily pedestrian class. When pressed on what colour they preferred for Rosé and Blanc de noir, the panel was divided, with preferences ranging from salmon to darker pink colour.