Recent past winners of this award have been the large wine companies including McWilliams Wines (2002, 2001, 1999 and 1998) and Hardy Wine Company (2000).

This year the wine show organising committee decided to alter the criteria used to select the most successful wineries by proportioning the medal winning wines across the total number of wines entered by each winery. This provided a much more "level playing field" and allowed smaller wineries to compete against the large companies.

Paringa Estate entered five wines in the show winning two Gold Medals, a Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals.

This years show was made up of 456 wineries from around Australia entering a total of 4379 wines.

Nat and Rosalie White from Main Ridge Estate who also attended the presentation and congratulated Lindsay and Margaret McCall from Paringa Estate on their achievement. "At last quality is being recognised rather than quantity. Your success is well deserved and really quite inspirational for all small vignerons," said Nat.

It is interesting to note that the larger companies are not thrilled with the changes, in fact McWilliams are known to have complained to the show society. "All power to the organisers for being brave enough to make such regulation changes," said Lindsay McCall.

2003 Royal Melbourne "Wine Show"

• 4379 Different wines entered
• 456 Wineries from throughout Australia
• Paringa Estate's awards were the first of their type for the Mornington Peninsula Wine Industry
• Paringa Estate Winery also achieved 2 Gold Medals, a Silver and 2 bronze medals
• 2001 & 2002 Estate Pinot Noir finalist for Best Pinot of Show
• 2001 & 2002 Estate Pinot Noir finalist for Best Victorian Dry Red