Golden year for Sacred Hill
MEDIA RELEASE 5 December 2012
Golden year for Sacred Hill
Sacred Hill Vineyards enjoyed its most successful year ever in 2012 and to celebrate chief winemaker Tony Bish is revealing his favourite summer food matches for his gold medal winning wines.
The Sacred Hill family of wines, which includes Ti Point and Wild South, won more gold medals, five star ratings and international critical acclaim in 2012 than in any previous year.
Chief winemaker Tony Bish says the success is a tribute to the passion and dedication of the whole Sacred Hill team.
“Our desire is to make wines that reflect our vineyard sites and are known for their texture, flavour and sheer drinkability,” he says.
“The experience and attention to detail at every stage of the winemaking process by our winemaking team is reflected in the quality of wine produced. But wine isn’t just made by winemakers, it’s made by the people in the cellar and in the vineyards. It’s a team effort and we are all delighted with this year’s achievements.”
Stand out successes include 2011 Sacred Hill Orange Label Sauvignon Blanc winning gold medals in the New World Wine Awards and Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, with the 2012 vintage winning gold on release at the New Zealand International Wine Show.
It was also a
superb year for the winery’s flagship Special Selection
range with the wines receiving a raft of outstanding
endorsements from international critics, including a rare 97
point score for the 2010 Sacred Hill Helmsman from
Australian MW (Master of Wine) Andrew Caillard and ratings
ranging between 90 and 93+ points from Lisa Perotti-Brown MW
of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, one of the most
influential wine publications in the world.
“The
avalanche of endorsements we have received this year is a
great reward for the team’s efforts, and provides
independent confirmation for our customers that we produce
great quality wines that can be trusted to deliver beyond
expectations” Tony Bish says.
His top tip is to get
the best out of Sacred Hill’s winning wines by enjoying
them with good company and tasty summer fare such as these
personal favourites.
Hot tea smoked salmon
sliders
Salmon, whisky, brown sugar-cure; sour
cream, horseradish, mayo – dressing; Tea, sugar – to
smoke; micro greens and Tobiko caviar to finish.
Gold
medal wine match: Riflemans Chardonnay.
Individual caramelised onion and goats cheese
tarts
Goats cheese, red onion, brown sugar,
balsamic, thyme; flour and butter for a light, tasty pastry.
Gold medal wine match: Orange Label Sauvignon Blanc or
Wild South Sauvignon Blanc.
Rare Hawke’s Bay
Wagyu beef on handcrafted sourdough loaf with Dijon
mayonnaise (dijonaise) and baby gherkins, dusted with
epicurean micro greens.
Gold medal wine match: Ti Point
Matriarch Syrah or Halo Merlot Cabernet.
Ends.
Sacred Hill VineyardsTrophies and Gold
Medals 2012
Trophies 2010
Brokenstone – Reserve Champion Wine of Show and Champion
Red Blends – Merlot Dominant, Hawke’s Bay A&P
Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards. 2007 Riflemans Chardonnay –
Champion Museum Class, Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-
Benz
Wine Awards.
Gold & Blue Gold Medals
2012 Orange Label Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand
International Wine Show 2011 Orange Label Sauvignon Blanc
– New World Wine Awards, Royal Easter Show Wine Awards .
2011 Orange Label Pinot Gris – Royal Easter Show Wine
Awards, Bragato Wine Awards. 2011 Orange Label Merlot
Cabernet – Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards.
2011 HALO Awatere Sauvignon Blanc – Sydney International
Wine Competition. 2011 HALO Merlot Cabernet – Hawke’s
Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards. 2010 Brokenstone –
Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards. 2007 Riflemans
– Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards. 2007
Helmsman – Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards.
2010 Ti Point Matriarch Syrah – Sydney International Wine
Competition 2011 Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc – Royal Easter
Show Wine Awards 2011 Wild South Sauvignon Blanc – Cool
Climate Wine Show 2009 Wild South Pinot Noir – Sydney
International Wine Competition