Waiheke chardonnay claims "elite" status

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards have conveyed "elite" status on an island vintage at their awards dinner in Christchurch.

Falling just short of being awarded a trophy, Mudbrick Vineyard claimed an elite gold medal for its Reserve Chardonnay 2008.

The announcement was the final stage of the awards which saw 14 Waiheke wines from seven vineyards win medals last week.

Trophy and elite gold winning wines were picked from the medal winners.

Judges re-tasted the wines to choose the champion wine of show and award trophies for best wine of each varietal.

Mudbrick owner Nick Jones was delighted with the news, saying it showed the wine's class.

"It also shows that overall there's been major changes in Waiheke wine growing.

"A lot of us came here as 'newbies' 10 to 15 years ago and now we're really starting to perfect our craft - and it's across all varietals," says Mr Jones.

- Waiheke Marketplace