International kudos for Kerikeri wine

DIANA DOBSON

WOW: Marsden Estate's 2006 Black Rocks Chardonnay creator Rod MacIvor, right, collects the GisVin Champion Wine of Show from Rob Godwin at the International Chardonnay Challenge.

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Marsden Estate's 2006 Black Rocks Chardonnay has scooped the major award at the 2007 International Chardonnay Challenge held in Gisborne.

The wine from the Kerikeri vineyard won the GisVin Champion Wine of Show, heading off 450 entries from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Argentina and Canada.

Chairman of judges Mike DeGaris, from Australia, said the winner was a standout.

"It is a wine that shows great complexity and varietal purity."

The wine also won trophies for top oaked chardonnay and best North Island chardonnay.

Marsden Estate co-owner Rod MacIvor was delighted.

"My heart is still fluttering at the news.

"We're a small region and people don't usually associate Northland with wine, but this result will do wonders for us all."

Rod and wife Cindy developed their 10-acre vineyard in 1993, naming it after Samuel Marsden who planted New Zealand's first grapes in Kerikeri back in 1819.

The winning chardonnay, which spent 12 months in American and French oak, has already done well this year, takfing gold at Bragato and the International Wine Show and silver at the Liquorland 100.

Rod says he knew the wine would be good as soon the fruit was picked.

Marsden Estate has won gold for its chardonnay five times in the past seven years.

The Wiroa Rd estate has an annual production of about 4000 cases.

With the Marsden Estate focus still on producing small batches of quality wine, the estate has no plans to expand, Mr MacIvor says.

- © Fairfax NZ News