30 July 2012
MEDIA RELEASE

Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District launched in Hawke’s Bay

The Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District has been launched to celebrate and promote one of New Zealand’s premium winegrowing sub-regions.

The Bridge Pa Triangle extends over more than 2,000 hectares on the western side of the Heretaunga plains and includes the largest concentration of vineyards in Hawke’s Bay.

Home to a large number of internationally acclaimed wineries and vineyards, the new Hawke’s Bay sub-region has been the brainchild of a small group of local winegrowers: Paul Ham (Alpha Domus Winery), Stephen Daysh (Bridge Pa Vineyard), Grant Edmonds (Sileni Estate), Steve Nathan (Salvare Estate) and Peter Cowley (Te Mata Estate). It now includes ten wineries and seven individual grape growers.

Peter Cowley, who has researched the special nature of this area for some time, explains, “The Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District is located on old terraces of the Ngaruroro River, which up until 10,000 years ago flowed out to sea between Maraekakaho and Roys Hill.

“The river deposited vast amounts of greywacke gravel known locally as red metal, which is covered in different areas by alluvium derived from loess, volcanic ash and greywacke.”

The resulting soil is ideal for vineyards as it is well drained but has water-holding capacity to establish a full grapevine canopy, with limited irrigation.

The average Growing Degree Days (GDD) over the last 16 vintages in the centre of the Bridge Pa Triangle has been measured as 1483. This is the same as Medoc in Bordeaux, France and Coonawarra in South Australia.
“That this area is ideally suited to the production of quality wines, is proven by the awards won,” says Paul Ham. “We excel at full flavoured Syrah, Merlot, Red Blends, Chardonnay and Viognier. These wines are characterised by excellent varietal expression, depth of flavour, generosity, and ample fruit sweetness.”

Lyn Bevin, executive officer from Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers’ Inc., the regional wine organisation says, “This is a great development for Hawke’s Bay and only adds to our regional wine story. The Bridge Pa Triangle has long been a producer of award-winning wines and is home to many of the region’s well known wineries. I look forward to working with the new group as we continue to promote our strengths and diversity in the international arena.”

Recent accolades for Bridge Pa Triangle wines include:

Abbey Cellars Riesling 2009 2011 Sydney International Wine Show – Blue Gold
Abbey Cellars Malbec Temptation 2009 2010 U.K International Wine & Spirits Competition – Best in Class

Alpha Domus Viognier 2005 2006 Royal Easter Show - Viognier Trophy
Alpha The Barnstormer Syrah 2010 2011 HB A&P Mercedes Benz Wine awards – Syrah Trophy & Reserve Champion Wine of Show
Ash Ridge Syrah 2010 2012 Royal Easter Show - Gold
Bridge Pa Louis Syrah 2007 2011 UK International Wine & Spirits Competition - Gold and Best in Class
Ngatarawa Alwyn Chardonnay 2010 2012 UK International Wine Challenge Trophies for Best NZ Chardonnay and Best NZ White Wine
Salvare Chardonnay 2007 2009 Air NZ Wine Awards and HBA&P
Society Mercedes Benz Awards
Sileni The Triangle Merlot 2010 2012 Selections Mondiales du Canada - Gold
Sileni The Priestess Pinot Gris 2010 2012 Royal Easter Show - Pinot Gris Trophy
Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2010 2012 Bob Campbell in Gourmet Wine Traveller – 97/100

ENDS

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