Top Honours For NZ Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc

MEDIA RELEASE

4 October 2007

New Zealand Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc beat tough competition to claim top honours at international wine competition

New Zealand wine took top honours on the world stage today winning the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir Trophies for the second year running at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) held in the United Kingdom.

The Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2006 was awarded the IWSC Trophy for Sauvignon Blanc while the Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005 took away the Bouchard Finlayson Trophy for Pinot Noir.

The standard of New Zealand entries to this year’s competition was high with 80 per cent of the 277 entries awarded a medal, bringing New Zealand’s medal tally to 221, up 35 per cent on 2006.

Of the seven gold medals won by New Zealand wines, six received the highest marks achieving best in class status. New Zealand wines were also awarded 91 silver medals, a 40 per cent increase on last year, of which 23 were awarded best in class, and a total of 123 bronze medals were also awarded. Best in class wines were then given the chance to vie for one of 17 overall trophies available to New Zealand entries.

“New Zealand has become an increasingly important category at the IWSC in recent years, and we're delighted to see its continued development,” said IWSC Director, Frances Horder.

"The unique combination of detailed technical analysis and specialist judging panels means that success at the competition is an outstanding achievement," Ms Horder said.

New Zealand Winegrowers global marketing director Chris Yorke believes the results reflect New Zealand wine’s high quality and continued diversification among varietals.

“To win the Pinot Noir Trophy is a demonstration to the world that we have great diversity in our wine. This is the second time in a row New Zealand wine has won the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc categories proving we have consistency in our product to continually produce the highest quality wine,” Mr Yorke said.

Founded in 1969, the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) is one of the premier competitions of its kind in the world and aims to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. For a full list of results visit www.iwsc.net

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