Grapes And Accolades Keep Growing

MEDIA RELEASE - NOVEMBER 2008

Grapes And Accolades Keep Growing

Latest Awards at Saint Clair Family Estate

Heading into summer, the grapes are growing, and in Saint Clair’s case, so is the winery’s list of accolades.

The awards won by the family owned and operated winery last month include not one, but three Gold Medals at New Zealand’s premier wine competition, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2008, for the following wines:
 Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
 Saint Clair Pioneer Block 12 Lone Gum Gewurztraminer 2007 (this wine has won five other gold medals and one trophy to date)
 Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards attracted a record 1,751 entries from across New Zealand’s 10 winegrowing regions.

The Christchurch Casino Awards honoured Saint Clair with two Trophies, for Taste Award Supreme Winner and Industry Showcase Award, and a Gold Medal for Saint Clair Pioneer Block 6 ‘Oh’ Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (to date this wine has won four gold medals and one trophy in other shows). Saint Clair Cellar Door and Café Manager, Chris Hammond, was at the event to collect the trophies and medals on behalf of the winery.

Saint Clair is continuing to increase its reputation not just within New Zealand, but an international level as well!

Philippines:
From Marlborough, to Manila, Saint Clair’s wines were promoted as part of an exclusive event during October held at LILY, a premier Hyatt Hotel & Casino in the Philippines. The event featured Saint Clair’s award winning wines and were matched with select dishes prepared by the chefs of the premier Chinese restaurant.

Persian Gulf:
While in the Persian Gulf, Saint Clair has won a tender with its Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 to supply premier airline Quatar Air.

America:
Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was crowned the grand champion of the Old Ebbitt Grill Oyster Riot in Washington DC. Old Ebbit Grill is the largest restaurant in Washington DC (the restaurant is next door to the White House) and the event is one of DC’s paramount food and wine events. Thousands of wines were entered, all competing to be the best wine to be matched with oysters.

Achieving this award automatically adds Saint Clair’s winning wine to the restaurants glass pour menu (as well as all the other restaurants in the group, called Clydes), which is an exciting development for the Marlborough based winery.

These accolades follow Saint Clair’s Chief Winemaker, Matt Thomson, winning the esteemed White Winemaker of the Year at the 2008 International Wine Challenge in London in September.

Managing Director Neal Ibbotson says, “It is such a delight to be recognised across these different awards and countries. It has been a very exciting, successful and busy few months for us, and along with our expert wine making team, we couldn’t be happier!”

Saint Clair Family Estate began in 1994 and has received a multitude of prestigious awards and trophies from around the world. For more information on Saint Clair Family Estate visit www.saintclair.co.nz

ENDS.

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