COOLANGATTA Estate near Berry has again dominated at the South Coast Wine Show, taking out best wine of show, best white wine and best wine made from grapes grown on the Shoalhaven Coast at Friday night's presentation dinner in Ulladulla.

As predicted the main award for the night went to a Semillon - in this case Coolangatta Estate's 2005 Semillon.

Coolangatta's 2005 Semillon also took out one of the seven gold medals awarded by judges at this year's show.

As reported recently in the Times, judges at this year's show praised the standard of entries, particularly in the Semillon class which chief judge Paul Morris described as world standard.

Coolangatta Estate also took out gold medals for its 2001, 2003 and 2008 Semillons and - just to stamp its dominance on the class - silver medals for its 2000 and 2006 Semillons and bronze medals for its 2002, 2004 and 2007 Semillons.

Local wineries didn't miss out. Max and Glenda Staniford from Fern Gallery Winery were this week celebrating two bronze medals - one for the winery's 2008 Chambourcin and the other for their 2008 vintage port.

In all judges awarded a total of 72 medals at this year's show - seven gold, 21 silver and 44 bronze.

Besides the four gold medals it won for its Semillons, Coolangatta Estate also took out a gold medal for its 2004 Verdehlo. Other gold medals went to Cuttaway Hills Estate in Mittagong for its 2006 Chardonnay.

Cuttaway Hills also took out the trophy for best wine made from grapes grown in the Southern Highlands.

Another Southern Highlands winery, Southern Highlands Wines near Sutton Forest, took home a gold medal and the trophy for best red wine for its 2006 merlot.

In total Coolangatta Estate won a total of 20 medals while another top performer was Cambewarra Estate, in Cambewarra, which took out a total of 10 medals.

The certificate for best wine made in a Shoalhaven Coast winery went to Crooked River Wines in Gerringong for its 2007 Arneis.