Welcome to Helm Wines of Murrumbateman
 Helm Wines of Murrumbateman has won the Sydney Royal Wine Show Douglas Lamb Trophy for Best Riesling, and gold medals for both its current vintage Rieslings. The trophy is one of the most prestigious ever awarded to a Canberra district white wine, and places both Rieslings with the very best in Australia.
The Helm Classic Dry Riesling 2008 won the Douglas Lamb Trophy and a gold medal, and the Helm Premium Riesling 2008 also won gold in separate classes at Sydney Royal. The wins bring the two wines' award tally in the 2008 /2009 wine show circuit to five trophies and five gold medals, along with many national and international commendations. These results firmly establish Helm Wines among the best Australian Riesling producers and demonstrate that Canberra is a premium Riesling region, in the same league as the Clare and Eden Valleys in South Australia.
The results further support the comments made by Brian Croser AO, Chair of Judges at the Canberra Regional Show, where the same Helm 2008 Rieslings won 2 gold medals and 2 trophies:
"The gold medal Canberra Rieslings are world class wines...demonstrating why Canberra is one of Australia's great Riesling terroirs."
Ken Helm said "I am thrilled that both our wines won gold medals at Sydney Royal and to also win the Doug Lamb trophy at one of the most prestigious and most competitive wine shows is definitely a highlight of my 30 + years of winemaking. The achievement is due to the combined efforts of the Helm family, our grape grower Al Lustenberger and the great Canberra viticultural climate. All this combines to make Riesling winemaking so much easier".
Helm Wines, a pioneer winery in the Canberra District, has been producing Rieslings since 1977. The winery has consistently attracted wine show awards, favourable reviews and a growing band of supporters. Their reputation spread to the United Kingdom in 2009, when the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation chose the Helm Premium Riesling 2008 as one of the top Australian wines it promoted in London on Australia Day.
*The 2009 Royal Sydney Wine Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious wine shows in Australia, attracted 2300 entries. www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au/wine
Helm Wines, the centre of the world at Murrumbateman.
Helm Wines is an owner operated family winery, run as a tourism operation by Ken Helm and his wife Judith.
Helm Wines is one of about 40 boutique cool climate Canberra wineries (established in 1973), one of the first commercial wineries in the Canberra District Wine Region. Located just outside of Murrumbateman, approximately 30 km north of Canberra, Helm Wines is open daily from 10am to 5pm except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (address and contact details)
Handcrafted wines by the family...
Ken and Judith started the vineyard, winery and cellar door in 1973 and have built it into one of the leading wineries in the Canberra District. It continues to be a family affair with Judith doing most of the annual pruning, the arduous accounts and paperwork. Judith or Ken will welcome you at the cellar door.
The winemakers are Ken Helm and 21 year old daughter Stephanie, who are fourth and fifth generation descendants of German vinedressers from the Rhineland, who established vineyards near Albury and Rutherglen in 1860s.
Ken's flagship wines are Riesling and Cabernets and he has connections with Riesling makers from all over the world, eg: Dr Loosen and Katharina Prüm in the Mosel and Dr Alexander Kohen from the German Wine School in Koblez. Trips to the vineyards and wineries of Mosel, the Rhine valley and Bordeaux have fine tuned the Helm wines. Ken's instigation in 2000 and chairing the Canberra International Riesling Challenge allows him to constantly keep abreast of new developments in Rieslings around the world.
Stephanie Helm (daughter), started making wine when she was 9 years of age and has produced Trophy, Gold, Silver and Bronze award wines under her own label - The Stephanie Collection. She also takes an active role in the blending and running of the winery when time allows from her university demands.
A blending of food and wine...
Matthew Helm (son) trained as a chef at the Hyatt in Canberra has worked in Gleneagles, Scotland, Kempinski Hotel in Munich, Germany, Bathers Pavilion, Balmoral Sydney , Oberoi on the Red Sea Egypt, Rayavadee Resort Thailand, Raffles Singapore, and is currently Executive Chef at Crown Macau. Matthew consults on food and wine matching for Helm Wines.
A family mix of wine and politics ensures a memorable visit...
Natalie Helm (daughter) a Political Science and History graduate from the ANU, currently works in London as a political and public relations consultant. She is also Helm Wines representative in London. Her father, Ken spent from 1988 to 2000 involved in local and federal politics, lobbying for the wine industry. Natalie's expertise in this area added to his effectiveness and his efforts were recognised with the Graham Gregory trophy awarded for his contribution to the NSW wine industry in 1999. Ken served for 12 years on Yass Shire Council and 2 years as Mayor (1985 - 1999).
Trumpeting the district's growing reputation... (John Fordham, The Sunday Telegraph 2003)
A quarter of a century of wine making and promoting, together with pioneering the development of many of the Canberra Region wine styles has been a passion for Ken Helm. He has been involved in the development of the National Wine Show, Cool Climate Wine Show, Wine Press Club of Canberra and in numerous promotional events for the Canberra region. Awarded by NSW Government in 1999 the Graham Gregory Trophy for a major contribution to the NSW Wine Industry. He instigated the International Riesling Challenge held at the Hyatt in Canberra in 2000. Ken was awarded the Wolf Blass Award in 2006 for contribution to the promotion of Riesling.
Escape to Helms for an experience of wine, history, politics and good fun...
Helm Wines is more than just a working winery. A visit to Helm Wines could not only involve wine tasting in the historic Toual School House, but also the trivia of wine, politics, history and perhaps a look behind the scenes on a guided tour of wine making (viticulture). Helm Wines hopes that your visit is not only enjoyable but also educational. At Helms we believe that "visitors should be treated to not only a good wine, but also to experience the art of wine making".
 An inexpensive family day out, the grounds of Helm's Winery offers great potential for a picnic, with picturesque rural scenery and the chance of seeing many native birds and wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, hares and shy resident echidna.
Join us today or on your next visit to Canberra.
|