Press Release – 10 November 2006

Central Otago Wine Success At Home And Abroad

The best of New Zealand wines were honoured this week at the 2006 Air New Zealand Wine Awards with the Central Otago region receiving 46 awards, including four gold and 18 silver medals.

The awards further reinforced Central Otago’s position as New Zealand’s leading pinot noir region with all four of its gold medals as well as nine silver medals in the pinot noir section. The gold medal wines are Bannock Brae Estate “Goldfields” Pinot Noir 2005, Mount Michael “Bessie’s Block” Pinot Noir 2005, Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2005 and Bannock Brae Estate “Barrel Selection” Pinot Noir 2005. However, Central Otago also demonstrated its diversity as a wine growing region with pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, rosé and sparkling wines all receiving recognition.

“Central Otago is New Zealand’s premier pinot noir producing region and to win four gold medals with wine from one of the region’s most challenging vintages is a huge achievement. The high level of success of other grape varieties at this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards is also very encouraging,” said Central Otago Winegrowers Association president, Martin Anderson. “It’s exciting to see emerging vineyards such as Wooing Tree and Wild Earth doing so well in New Zealand’s top wine show.”

All four of Central Otago’s gold medal winners will go on to vie for the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards trophies on Saturday 11 November in Hawke’s Bay.

Central Otago also made a big impact in Singapore last week at the Wines for Asia 2006 show. The region was described by one Singaporean importer as having wines "to die for" and being “one of only two regions worldwide to compete head on with Burgundian reds”. Thirteen wineries showcased their wines in Hong Kong and Singapore under the COPNL banner – the marketing arm of Central Otago Winegrowers Association.

“With national and international success such as this wine production in Central Otago can no longer be described as ‘vineyards on the edge’,” said Martin Anderson.

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For further information please contact:
Martin Anderson: Ph: 03 445 3495 Mobile: 021 575575
martin@nevisbluff.co.nz

For a full list of Central Otago medal winners please see attached:

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Central Otago Air New Zealand Wine Awards Medallists 2006

Gold Medals
Bannock Brae Barrel Selection Pinot Noir 2005
Goldfields Pinot Noir 2005
Mount Michael’s Bessie’s Block Pinot Noir 2005
Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2005

Silver Medals
Bald Hills Pinot Noir 2005
Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2005
Lake Hayes Pinot Noir 2005
Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir 2005
Nevis Bluff Pinot Noir 2004
Rockburn Pinot Noir 2004
Slackjack Creek Pinot Noir 2005
Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir 2005
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2005
Shaky Bridge Gewurztraminer 2006
Gibbston Valley Pinot Gris 2006
Wild Earth Pinot Gris 2006
Amante Riesling 2006
Black Ridge Riesling 2005
Gibbston Valley Riesling 2006
Charcoal Joe Chardonnay 2005
Kawarau Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2005
Mount Michael Bessie’s Block Chardonnay 2005

Bronze Medals
Bald Hills Pinot Noir 2004
Bannock Brae Barrel Selection Pinot Noir 2003
Blind Trail Pinot Noir 2003
Jackson Barry Pinot Noir 2004
Kawarau Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2005
Locharburn Pinot Noir 2005
Mondillo Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005
Rocky Point Pinot Noir 2004
Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir 2004
Akarua Pinot Gris 2006
Lake Hayes Pinot Gris 2006
Mt Difficulty Pinot Gris 2006
Quartz Reef Pinot Gris 2006
Bald Hills Last Light Riesling 2006
Mount Difficulty Target Gully Riesling 2006
Rockburn Riesling 2005
Rocky Point Riesling 2005
Shaky Bridge Riesling 2006
Charcoal Joe Chardonnay 2004
Mount Maude Chardonnay 2005
Bald Hills Blanc de Pinot Noir 2006
Springvale Estate Rose 2006
Waitiri Creek Harriet Rose 2006
Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle Vintage 2002

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