Trinity Hill Homage Syrah Wins Top Trophy

Media Release
24 November 2007

Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006
Wins Top Trophy At 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

• Hawke's Bay wins the two most prestigious trophies
• 18 trophies awarded across four winegrowing regions
• Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy, elite gold and pure elite gold medals awarded for the first time

Hawke's Bay has taken away New Zealand's most esteemed wine trophy for 2007 and the country's first ever sustainable wine trophy in New Zealand's most prestigious wine competition.

Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006 has won the Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show Trophy.

It has also won the Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah Trophy.

Cottage Block Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2006 has won the Bell Gully Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy - the first time a sustainability trophy has been awarded both at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards and in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand Wine Awards chair of judges, Steve Smith, Master of Wine (MW), said the two winning wines had impressed the judging panel and were exceptional.

"The Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006 can only be described as an iron fist in a velvet glove. It has extremely complex flavours which are simply fantastic, but it is not flamboyant or hard-hitting.

"The Cottage Block Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2006 is rich with strong savoury characteristics complete with a nutty complex," he said.

He also said that having elite gold medals awarded for the first time allowed the judges to give special recognition to those truly great wines among gold medal winners in each class. In addition to the trophies, a total of 20 elite gold medals and two pure elite gold medals (awarded to sustainable wines) have also been awarded across five winegrowing regions throughout New Zealand.

"The new elite gold and pure elite gold medals reward excellence and enable the consumer to make an informed decision on their wines," said Mr Smith.

Organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards is the country's most prestigious wine competition with 1,540 wines entered this year.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said the airline was proud of its long-standing association with the New Zealand wine industry and the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

"Air New Zealand and the New Zealand wine industry share a commitment to quality and excellence, and passion for delivering an exceptional customer experience. We are committed to taking the best of New Zealand to the world and the wine selection we serve both in-flight and on the ground is an important aspect of the uniquely Kiwi experience that we strive to deliver," he said.

Steve Smith, MW, chair of judges said it is encouraging that New Zealand wineries are taking sustainability in winemaking seriously.

"The sustainability movement in winemaking is important and it is significant that we recognise this and encourage as many wineries to follow suit," he said.

Seven wines from Hawke's Bay were awarded trophies including the Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show Trophy and the Bell Gully Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy. Winning wines were: Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006, Cottage Block Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2006, Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2006, Sileni Estate Selection "The Triangle" Merlot 2005, Church Road Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet 2005, Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2006 and Esk Valley Reserve Syrah 2006.

Seven wines from Marlborough were also awarded trophies. Winning wines were: Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Banc 2007, Hawkesbridge Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle 2003, Foxes Island Marlborough Riesling 2007, Forrest Estate Gewurztraminer 2006, Lawson's Dry Hills Gewurztraminer 2007, Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Gris 2007 and Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2006.

Central Otago wines received two trophies - winning wines were: Kim Crawford SP Rise & Shine Creek Pinot Noir 2006 and Rockburn Pinot Noir 2006.

A Gisborne wine won one trophy for Coopers Creek Gisborne Viognier 2007.

International judge Peter McCombie, MW who is a Kiwi living in England, said New Zealand should be proud of its internationally-renowned wines.

"New Zealand is continuing to make world-class wines and the Air New Zealand Wine Awards is one of the most professionally run wine competitions. Consumers can be confident with any wine awarded an Air New Zealand Wine Awards medal," he said.

The 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards was held in Christchurch tonight at the Christchurch Convention Centre and was attended by over 750 guests.

Guests experienced the trophy wines first-hand, accompanied by a six-course dinner designed by Air New Zealand's executive chefs - Rex Morgan from Citron Restaurant in Wellington and Inspire at The Spire Restaurant in Queenstown; Peter Gordon from dine by Peter Gordon and Bellota in Auckland; and The Providores and Tapa Room in London; Geoff Scott from Vinnies Restaurant in Auckland; and Govind Armstrong from Table 8 in Los Angeles and Miami.

The evening was hosted by actor Oliver Driver and guests were entertained by Ben Makisi, who performed throughout the evening with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Local dance band Studio 54 also played.

The trophy and full medal results for the 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards are available on www.airnzwineawards.co.nz and www.wineshow.co.nz

AIR NEW ZEALAND WINE AWARDS 2007 TROPHY WINNERS

Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show Trophy
Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006

Bell Gully Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy
Cottage Block Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2006

Air Sea Global Champion Pinot Noir Trophy
Kim Crawford SP Rise & Shine Creek Pinot Noir 2006

GlobalCap New Zealand Champion Sauvignon Blanc Trophy
Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Nissan New Zealand Limited Champion Sparkling Wine Trophy
Hawkesbridge Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle 2003

O-I New Zealand Champion Chardonnay Trophy
Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2006

AMPM Marketing Champion Riesling Trophy
Foxes Island Marlborough Riesling 2007

Bayleys Realty Group Champion Merlot Trophy
Sileni Estate Selection "The Triangle" Merlot 2005

BDO Spicers Champion Other White Styles Trophy
Coopers Creek Gisborne Viognier 2007

Carter & Associates Champion Cabernet Sauvignon or
Merlot/Cabernet Blend Trophy
Church Road Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet 2005

Corbans Viticulture Champion Exhibition White or
Sparkling Wine Trophy
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2006

Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine Trophy
Rockburn Pinot Noir 2006

Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah Trophy
Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006

Hort Research Champion Other Red Styles Trophy
Not Awarded*

Kapiti Fine Foods Champion Exhibition Red Wine Trophy
Esk Valley Reserve Syrah 2006

Label and Litho Champion Gewurztraminer Trophy
Forrest Estate Gewurztraminer 2006

New World Champion Open White Wine Trophy
Lawson's Dry Hills Gewurztraminer 2007

New Zealand Winegrowers Rosé Trophy
Not Awarded*

The Huka Retreats Champion Pinot Gris Trophy
Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Gris 2007

Wineworks Champion Medium Sweet or Sweet Wine Trophy
Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2006

* Entered wines did not meet gold medal standard in these categories

In addition to the trophies, the following medals were announced:

PURE ELITE GOLD MEDALS

Camshorn Classic Riesling 2007
Mondillo Pinot Noir 2006

ELITE GOLD MEDALS BY VARIETY

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Boatshed Bay by Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Eradus Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Goldwater Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Highfield Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Mansion House Bay Vineyard Select Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Vavasour Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2007

CHARDONNAY

Auntsfield Estate Cob Cottage Chardonnay 2006
Goldwater Chardonnay 2006
Montana Terroir Series Stuart Block Chardonnay 2006
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2005

RIESLING

Forrest Estate The Doctors' Riesling 2006
Mud House Waipara Riesling 2007

PINOT NOIR

Lamont Pinot Noir 2005
The Crater Rim Omihi Rise Waipara Pinot Noir 2006
Villa Maria Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2006
Villa Maria Estate Single Vineyard Rutherford Pinot Noir 2006

MERLOT

Saint Clair Rapaura Reserve Merlot 2006

SYRAH

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawkes Bay Syrah 2006
John Forrest Gimblett Gravels Collection Syrah 2005

ENDS

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