Marlborough excels in wine awards

Marlborough produced the top sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and riesling wines in New Zealand this year, judges decided at the Romeo Bragato Wine Awards in Blenheim on Saturday.

While Martinborough's Cobblestone Te Muna Pinot Noir 2009 was named champion wine of show, the efforts of several Marlborough grapegrowers were also acknowledged.

Summerhouse Vineyard owners and winemakers Heather and Meric Davies won the Friedrich Wohnsiedler Trophy for their champion Summerhouse Dry Riesling 2010, while Tohu Awatere's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 collected the New Zealand Wine Cellars Spence Brothers Trophy for champion sauvignon blanc.

Valley East Vineyard grapegrowers Rob and Lynne Kennedy, who grow on contract for Auckland-based Artisan Winery, received the Brother Cyprian Trophy for the Artisan Far Paddock Pinot Gris 2009.

Mrs Davies said the couple were happy their "pretty nice wine" had impressed the judges. The judges were looking for wines that reflected the vineyard they came from, which the Summerhouse grapes did thanks to the depth of flavour and floral and fruit characters, she said.

Tohu Wines chief executive Mike Brown said the win was a team effort, noting the efforts of Marlborough vineyard man-ager Mondo Kopua, winemaker Bruce Taylor and their team.He was particularly pleased to pick up the trophy for sauvignon blanc, given its popularity overseas.

"It's always so good to get a significant result for a wine you do in commercial volumes.

"There is no more important wine for us to have [success] in."

Mr Kennedy said he was also pleased. "It's a great honour to win with all the great wines that are around."

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan praised grapegrowers for their role in producing New Zealand's world-renowned wines.

"Grapegrowers should be extremely proud of entries and the contribution of their work to New Zealand's position as a quality wine-producing nation."

The Winners

Champion dessert wine: Glazebrook Noble Harvest Riesling 2009, Ngatarawa, Hawke's Bay

Champion gewurztraminer: Seifried Nelson Winemakers Collection Gewurztraminer 2010, Seifried Estate, Nelson

Bill Irwin Trophy and champion chardonnay: Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2008, Keltern Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy and champion pinot noir: Cobblestone Te Muna Pinot Noir 2009, Cobblestone Vineyard, Martinborough

Champion other white wine: Waimea Viognier 2009, Waimea Estates, Nelson

Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy and champion classical red wine: Kim Crawford Small Parcels Corner 50 Vineyard Hawke's Bay Merlot 2008, Corner 50 Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Champion cabernet sauvignon: Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Trust Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Alan Limmer Trophy and champion syrah: Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007, Omahu Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Champion other red wine: Jurassic Ridge Montepulciano 2008, Jurassic Ridge Vineyard, Auckland

Sustainability Trophy: Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007,

Omahu Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Richard Smart Trophy and reserve champion wine: Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007, Omahu Vineyard, Hawke's Bay

Champion wine of show and Bragato Trophy winner: Cobblestone Te Muna Pinot Noir 2009, Cobblestone Vineyard, Martinborough

- The Marlborough Express