Waiheke wines win well at awards

BY GILL ALCOCK

Last updated 15:03 18/11/2009

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Waiheke wineries have brought home a plethora of awards at this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards with seven vineyards collecting 14 medals for their wines.

The awards are considered the most prestigious in the industry and for the first time in the competition's almost 30-year history more than 100 gold medals were awarded across 14 varietals.

Waiheke has less than one percent of the country's vineyards but took home four gold medals from the 102 awarded.

Of the 17 medals awarded to wines from the Auckland region, 14 went to Waiheke wines.

1655 wines were entered into the competition and tasted by a 26-strong judging panel over several days at the ASB Showgrounds.

And Waiheke's reputation for only producing award winning cabernet sauvignon blends has changed after three vineyards won golds for their syrahs and one for their chardonnay.

Other island varietals awarded were sauvignon blanc and montepulciano.

After winning gold for his reserve syrah for the sixth year running, Passage Rock owner David Evans says, "It's a great coup for us as the Air New Zealand awards are the most recognised of all the wine shows in New Zealand. And it was great to see three Waiheke syrahs in the ten that won gold".

Mudbrick Vineyard has continued its run of success, collecting two more gold medals - for its chardonnay and reserve syrah - and a bronze for its cabernet sauvignon merlot 2008.

Winemaker Martin Pickering describes the result as "one out of the box", having already received six gold medals.

"It's been an unbelievable year for us with awards across all varietals," he says.

Miro was the third island vineyard to receive a gold for its 2008 syrah.

New Zealand Winegrowers global marketing director Chris Yorke says, "All wines entered are judged against international standards and this year New Zealand wineries have produced more gold medal-winning wines than any other year."

Award winning wines are recognisable as they sport Air New Zealand Wine Awards stickers.

Mr Yorke says, "They are a sign of quality and guide wine buying decisions for consumers nationwide and internationally."

Award winning Waiheke wines

Gold

Mudbrick Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay

Mudbrick Vineyard Reserve Syrah 2008

Miro Syrah 2008

Passage Rock Reserve Syrah 2008

Silver

Goldwater Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Man O' War Waiheke Island Merlot, Cabernet, Franc Malbec 2008

Obsidian Waiheke Island Cabernet Merlot 2008