New Zealand Pinot Noir – Comes Out On Top

September 2007

New Zealand Pinot Noir – Comes Out On Top

New Zealand swept the board at the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge this month, winning a total of five International trophies.

New Zealand Pinot Noir in particular triumphed. Blair and Estelle Hunt of Central Otago’s Bald Hills were ecstatic to discover that their 2005 Pinot Noir had won a total of three trophies over the two competitions.

After beating stiff competition from around the world Burgundy and New Zealand went head to head for the International Pinot Noir Over £10 Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Bald Hills, who have been producing wines for just ten years walked away with the accolade, reinforcing that New Zealand produces world class Pinot Noir.

The Hunts were bowled over by the IWC Awards a week later where they scooped up the Sustainable Trophy, reflecting New Zealand’s continued commitment to its Sustainable Winegrowing programme launched back in 1995.

To then go on to beat 29 gold medal winners from the world’s wine producing countries for the IWC’s Red Wine Champion Trophy was the icing on the cake.

Blair Hunt commented; “As small players we are in awe of what has happened. I am incredibly impressed by the consistency of appraisal from two eminent bodies and I have renewed confidence in the integrity of these awards and their judging processes. However what is really important about these awards is that they speak volumes for New Zealand Pinot Noir. New Zealand is obviously so well known for Sauvignon Blanc but we are now proving that our Pinot Noirs can compete with the best in the world”.

Further praise for New Zealand’s other varietals continued with the International Sweet Over £10 Trophy going to Seifried Estate Riesling Sweet Agnes, Nelson 2006. Ironic, considering that New Zealand is still battling with EU regulations for permission to import our sweet wines into the UK.

Last but not least, New Zealand also was also awarded the IWC White Wine Maker of the Year award which went to Alistair Maling MW of Villa Maria Estate.

ENDS

www.baldhills.co.nz
www.villamaria.co.nz
www.seifried.co.nz
www.nzwine.com/swnz (Sustainable Winegrowing)

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