Australia’s premier cool climate wine show is being held in Bathurst and will put the country’s best wines to the test in 37 classes next month.

Last year, 802 wines were entered by 151 wine makers across the country, with 341 medals awarded during judging.

No stranger to wins at the NCCWS, Gilbert Family Wines has previously scored a number of medals and last year was awarded the Champion Central Ranges Trophy for its 2013 Late Harvest Riesling.

In 2018, the NCCWS will celebrate its 20th year and organiser Michelle Kerr said the milestone show would be bigger than ever with wine entries open until Friday, September 14.

“We’ve got a new venue and our judges are coming from all states of Australia and a judge from New Zealand,” she said.

Ms Kerr said cool climate wines were very on trend and the grapes’ long growing season, in an altitude  of at least 600 metres, resulted in a wine that was delicate, balanced and without too much fruit sweetness or oak maturation.

She said the NCCWS’ relocation from Bathurst Showground to Panthers Bathurst this year would give the judges a climate-controlled environment that would allow for a more accurate assessment of each wine.

Gilbert Family Wines owner and winemaker, Simon Gilbert, has entered a range of varieties into this year’s show, including: late harvest Riesling, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and shiraz.

“Wine shows are pretty important as far as being judged by your peers,” he said.

“For our more junior winemakers, it’s good to get them involved in the show and they can see what happens.”

So important is the NCCWS, that Mr Gilbert already has plans to enter his first sparkling vintage in future shows once it is complete.

The NCCWS runs from October 16-19, with the hugely-popular public tasting event on Friday, October 19 from 6-9pm.

Tickets to the public tasting are $40 each and entry allows people to try all wines entered in the show.