Memorable Vintage for Artisan Sponsor

Memorable Vintage for Artisan Sponsor

One month after celebrating the winners and nominees for the 2010 Cuisine Magazine Artisan Awards key sponsor, Trinity Hill Wines, are giving themselves a high-five for completing what’s fast becoming known as one of the best vintages of the decade.

“Trinity Hill has always regarded itself as being on the cutting edge of new things happening in the wine industry, in particular experimentation with new grape varieties that have potential to become the next hot thing” says John Hancock, CEO of Trinity Hill.

“So it gave us a lot of pleasure to be able to support the Cuisine Artisan Awards because they’re a great fit with our business.” The sponsorship arrangement was made all the sweeter when Trinity found out that one of their staffers, Catherine Rusby, had actually been nominated for her delicious and versatile Damson Paste, produced by her business The Damson Collection.

“We congratulate them for what they’ve achieved” says John, “Many thanks also to Cuisine Magazine for instigating these most important awards and for encouraging innovation and excellence.”

Excellence is definitely on the cards for Trinity Hill’s wines now that the 2010 harvest is done and dusted. “We are very impressed indeed” says John, “the summer was relatively cool and January was wet, in fact the wettest for 100 years, so we were very pessimistic by the end of January. However, as is often the case, we have been saved by a wonderful Hawkes Bay Indian Summer. Everything we have picked has looked exceptional. 2010 is the best Chardonnay vintage we have seen since 2002, the fruit is pretty special”.

Warren Gibson, Trinity’s winemaker agrees that 2010 has produced some of the best quality fruit he’s seen in years and that the 2010 reds in particular should be sensational. He’s also thrilled with the first grapes from their new Sauvignon vineyard which has been earmarked for the Joint Venture wine, Metis, which Trinity Hill are producing with Pascal Jolivet from Sancerre. “Pascal joined us for the harvest, so we can truly say that it’s ‘New Zealand Sauvignon with a French Accent’” laughs Warren.

Jancis Robinson MW recently described the Metis 2008 as “very unlike Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate it really has depth and breadth. Fragrant eventually, and steely and lively. So different!"

“Unfortunately we only have limited stocks here in New Zealand as it’s destined for export to more exotic climes” admits John. “It's currently gracing wine lists in the 5 Star resorts of St Barts, Barbados, Martinique, St Martin and the British Virgin’s to name a few. But if people are interested in securing a case of this wonderfully elegant wine, they can email Roy, our Cellar Door Manager on enquiries@trinityhill.com.”

ENDS

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