Clearview Estate punches above its weight in wine awards

21 October 2014

Clearview Estate punches above its weight in Hawke’s Bay wine awards

Clearview Estate Winery took out two of the 13 Gold Trophy awards in this year’s Hawke’s Bay wine awards; with only big player Villa Maria doing better, taking out one more.

For the small winery based on the Cape Kidnapper’s coast of Hawke’s Bay, taking out the Museum Class and the Sauvignon Blanc and/or Semillon came hot on the heels of a strong showing at the International Aromatic Wine competition held earlier this month.

The Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – Barrique Fermented 2013 won its first ever gold at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards before being announced as the trophy winner at the region’s largest gala dinner held this week.

Clearview’s star performing wine, its Reserve Chardonnay, in this instance the 2009 vintage, took gold then trophy honours in the Museum class, where wines must be over four years old. The winery’s 2009 Enigma, a blend of the winery’s best Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, won a gold medal in the same category.

It was the Clearview Estate 2014 Coastal Gewürztraminer that sparkled at the Aromatic competition held in conjunction with the Canterbury A&P Show, taking its first-ever gold award.

Clearview Estate was one of the first wineries to help pioneer barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc in Hawke’s Bay and in the country, and the honours were testament to the winery’s perseverance with the barrel fermented style, says co-owner Helma van den Berg.

"We planted Sauvignon Blanc vines when we bought the property nearly 30 years ago and have nurtured them ever since. It began in the late 1980s with a vision of coastal plantings and the pioneering initial release of a Fume Blanc style."

Fellow co-owner and winemaker, Tim Turvey said he was “proud that after persisting with the barrel fermented style for around 26 years, it’s finally won gold.”

"We're pretty excited with the wins," says Mr Turvey. "Looking at the entry list, there was some pretty impressive competition from some great vintages, so to win three golds is gratifying.

"That our 2009 Reserve Chardonnay is still winning gold shows just what a truly special wine it is, so I hope people still have some in their cellars," says Mr Turvey.

Background Information
Established by Tim Turvey and Helma van den Berg in 1989, Clearview Estate continues as a family owned and operated business – handcrafted wines are grown, produced and bottled onsite. Renowned for award-winning Chardonnays and full bodied red wines, and the rustic and iconic ‘red shed’ restaurant that pioneered vineyard seaside dining in 1991 by combining a cellar door and lunch restaurant in a leafy vineyard setting.

Situated on the coastline of Hawke's Bay at Te Awanga, the Estate enjoys a unique microclimate, virtually frost-free with a warm, extended growing season and refreshing sea breezes. Clearview Estate focuses on quality; producing wines of great fruit intensity with a strong commitment to sustainability in all aspects of the business.

ENDS

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