Judge Rock Vineyard Central Otago Wins Two Trophies

Judge Rock Vineyard Central Otago Wins Two Trophies.

Judge Rock has won the Pinot Noir Trophy and the Red Wine of the Show Trophy at the Australia & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. The Trophies were presented in Sydney on Monday 11 th July. Judge Rock is a small family boutique wine producer in Alexandra Central Otago owned by Paul and Angela Jacobson.

Producing wine since 2002, and with a consistent record of gold medals from Decanter and Air New Zealand Wine Awards, this achievement confirms the outstanding quality of Judge Rock Pinot Noir.

Founded in 1996 the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers manages the Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. New Zealand wines were invited into the show from 2009. Huon Hooke is the Awards Chairman, Bob Campbell a judge along with 3 Masters of wine and various other judges, and Judith Kennedy is the Chief Executive.

A boutique wine company is defined as one which processes less than 250 ton annually under its own label and is owned independently, i.e., not owned by a larger wine company.

Angela Jacobson owner and marketing manager at Judge Rock says: “We are one of the world’s smallest vineyards from the most southerly wine growing region of the world with 4 hectares of vines and an annual tonnage of around 18 ton. We are so small we are almost invisible- We are the Higgs Boson of World Pinot Noir. Our 4ha vineyard has proven its ability to consistently make great Pinot Noir. Our 2012 Decanter gold medal Pinot Noir is currently exported to the UK and we have exported wines to China, Hong Kong and Australia. ”

You may well ask how do an ex guidance counsellor / education manager and a civil engineer produce such amazing wine?

“Firstly, we read every viticultural and winemaking book we could find, learnt from the best New Zealand Pinot Noir producers, and made wine in Burgundy under the Central Otago Winegrowers exchange. We have total hands on quality control of our vines ensuring that only the finest quality grapes are harvested for our skilled contract winemaking team, but as a small producer with a very limited budget marketing has always been our greatest challenge. Winning these trophies will be a significant boost to our national and international profile”

The 2014 Pinot Noir is yet to be released in New Zealand or Australia.

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