NZ’s Spy Valley rules Riesling roost in London

NZ’s Spy Valley rules Riesling roost in London

Leading Marlborough winemaker Spy Valley has scored an outstanding result winning the best Riesling trophy at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition.

The London success comes just weeks after Spy Valley was awarded a double gold medal for its riesling at the San Francisco international wine competition.

The event attracted 4000 wines from 45 countries and to win the Riesling Trophy is a huge achievement, Spy Valley general manager Blair Gibbs said today.

``This is only the second time a New Zealand wine has taken the top Riesling award which has been dominated by Germany and Australia.

“Winning awards like this on a global stage helps identify the brand and provides another sales tool for our importers and distributors” Gibbs said.

The result is also a substantial reward for Spy Valley’s vineyards, which when planted ten years ago were considered to be in a marginal area. The result further reinforces their decision on investing in a major new winery complex.

Winemaker Ant Mackenzie said he was delighted that the wine had achieved success in London.

``As with all of these things though, it is a team effort from the vineyard to the bottle,” he said.

Spy Valley won double golds for its 2003 Riesling and 2003 Gewurztraminer at San Francisco. Their 2002 Pinot Noir also won gold at the Japan International Wine Challenge last month. They also won three golds and two trophies at the 2003 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Spy Valley are one of New Zealand’s leading family-owned wine companies. Mackenzie has a major role in the operation and says he can’t wait for 2007 when they can release their wines with an eye-catching label: ``Spy Valley 007’’.

The company got its name from a US satellite monitoring base further up the road in the Waihopai valley. The label has caught on in New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Spy Valley’s new winery – one of the most modern in Marlborough - will be the venue for the Air New Zealand wine awards tasting later this year.
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