Wine Makers Receive Accolades At Awards Ceremony

Friday, 5 March 2004, 3:53 pm
Press Release: NZ Wine Society

Fifteen trophies were recently presented to the crème de la crème of New Zealand wineries at the New Zealand Wine Society Royal Easter Wine Show awards ceremony.

The evening was celebrated with a glitzy masquerade black tie event at Auckland's War Memorial Museum hosted by Vic Williams and Bob Campbell MW.

Wineries from all around the country were on hand to accept their accolades. The supreme award for Champion Wine of the Show went to Sacred Hill for their Riflemans Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2002. "This Chardonnay is 100% everything! 100% single estate vineyard, 100% natural fermentation, 100% barrel fermented in the finest French oak, and 100% commitment from all our vineyard and winery staff in perfecting everything associated with this wine. It has tremendous power and elegance, incredible texture, and will greatly reward cellaring" says wine maker Tony Bish.

The standout winery of the evening was Villa Maria Estate, claiming a total of four out of fifteen awards. "We were extremely delighted with the number of trophies won as this vindicates the enormous effort that goes in across all wine styles. In particular was our trophy for Champion Merlot or Merlot predominant blend won by Villa Maria's 2002 Cellar Selection Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon, a $22 bottle of wine up against wines valued at twice its price." Not forgetting winning Wine Maker of the Year. "This is a huge honour personally, but it would not have been possible without the collective effort of all the Villa Maria wine makers, viticulturists and vineyard managers involved. Everyone who has contributed to the awards can feel immense pride in these results," says Alastair Maling MW, Group Wine Maker, Villa Maria Estate.

Results available at www.wineshow.co.nz

Photos of the wine awards coming soon to www.slice.co.nz

ENDS

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