ORGANISERS plan to have a focus on Spanish and Portuguese wines at next year's Rutherglen Wine Show after canceling the event for the first time since World War II.
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The 132nd show was to be held last month, but coronavirus complications stopped it happening after the committee had made plans to proceed despite COVID.
Chairman Chris Pfeiffer said attracting judges proved too hard and the venue became off limits due to government regulations.
"Because it was held in a public building that restricted our use as well," Mr Pfeiffer said.
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"Even though it's an agricultural society pavilion it's on parkland, council land, and during lockdown you're not allowed to use them."
Mr Pfeiffer said the magnitude of not staging a show was not lost on the administrators.
"The only other time the show has not run in it's 145-year history has been World War II and World War I, it's only not run eight times in its history," he said.
"It was a difficult decision because a lot of us wanted it to go on.
"Melbourne was cancelled and Adelaide went ahead but they were able to use all South Australian judges."
Mr Pfeiffer said Jobkeeper had helped ease the financial burden of not having a wine show, with administration costs covered through that federal government benefit.
He said winning entrants would "miss that opportunity to have bragging rights", adding "everyone who gets their medal wants to talk about it".
However, he hopes a particular focus on wines from the Iberian peninsula next year reinvigorates the show and gives it a fresh point of difference as it re-emerges from its hiatus.
Mr Pfeiffer said there would be a new award for Spanish and Portuguese wines, a move which recognised Rutherglen's historic connection to that part of Europe through styles such as tempranillo and grenache as well as port.
"Just like the King Valley has Italian varieties and a connection there, we will look to focus on the Iberian peninsula," the grape grower said.
"It will give us something to encourage the exhibitors to pick us up again."
