Canterbury Cabernet Franc Wins Bragato Champion Wine Award

A Cabernet Franc from Canterbury has come out on top at this year’s Bragato Wine Awards.

Grown by Lindsay Hill, in the Waipara West vineyard located in Canterbury, The Boneline Cabernet Franc 2016 won the coveted Bragato Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show. The wine also picked up the O-I New Zealand Trophy for Champion Emerging Red Wine.

“This Cabernet Franc was a pleasure to judge, but equally an absolute joy to taste, savour and discuss,” said Chair of Judges Ben Glover. “This wine is certainly all about a single site… A real treat”.

Fourteen trophies in total were awarded and the geographical spread was diverse, with four going to Marlborough; three each going to Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and Otago; and one going to Nelson.

The Bragato Wine Awards recognise the grower for viticultural excellence and acknowledges that growing excellent grapes is the foundation of making wines of true quality. For the first time in the competition’s 23 year history, all wines entered in 2017 had to be single vineyard wines.

“By making the shift to a single vineyard show, we’re allowing our industry to express the Turangawaewae of their dis-tinctive sites,” said Mr Glover.

The Bragato Wine Awards are held each year as part of the New Zealand Winegrowers Romeo Bragato National Confer-ence. The Champion Wine of the Show was announced at the Conference Dinner last night. For more information visit www.bragato.org.nz.

Bragato Wine Awards 2017 Trophy Results:

Bragato Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show

The Boneline Cabernet Franc 2016

Canterbury

Vineyard: Waipara West

Grower: Lindsay Hill

Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir

Ruby Bay Pinot Noir 2016

Nelson

Vineyard: Ruby Bay Vineyard

Grower: Andrew Tamplin

Alan Limmer Trophy for Champion Syrah

Coopers Creek SV 'Chalk Ridge' Syrah 2015

Hawke's Bay

Vineyard: Chalk Ridge

Grower: Wayne Morrow

O-I New Zealand Trophy for Champion Emerging Red Wine

The Boneline Cabernet Franc 2016

Canterbury

Vineyard: Waipara West

Grower: Lindsay Hill

Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy for Champion Classical Red Wine

Saint Clair James Sinclair Cabernet Merlot 2015

Hawke's Bay

Vineyard: Plateau Vineyard

Grower: Neal & Judy Ibbotson

Richard Smart Trophy for Champion Rosé

Clark Estate Dayvinleigh Rosé 2017

Marlborough

Vineyard: Dayvinleigh

Grower: Kevin Johnston

New Zealand Frost Fans Trophy for Champion Sweet Wine

Villa Maria Reserve Noble Riesling Botrytis Selection 2015

Marlborough

Vineyard: Rocenvin Vineyard

Grower: Christine Fletcher

Glengarry Trophy for Champion Sparkling Wine

Akarua Vintage Brut 2011

Otago

Vineyard: Cairnmuir Road

Grower: Mark Naismith

Friedrich Wohnsiedler Trophy for Champion Riesling

Waipara Hills Soul Deans Riesling 2015

Canterbury

Vineyard: Deans Vineyard

Grower: Accolade Wines

Brother Cyprian Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris

Devil's Staircase Pinot Gris 2016

Otago

Vineyard: Rockburn Wines Ltd

Grower: Chris James, Richard Bunton, Paul Halford

Nick Nobilo Trophy for Champion Gewürztraminer

Bladen Gewürztraminer 2016

Marlborough

Vineyard: Paynters Road Vineyard

Grower: Keven and Kerry Tilly

O-I New Zealand Trophy for Champion Emerging White Wine

Askerne Viognier 2016

Hawke's Bay

Vineyard: Askerne

Grower: Kathryn and John Loughlin

Spence Brothers Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc

Konrad Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Marlborough

Vineyard: Konrad Wines

Grower: Konrad Hengstler

Bill Irwin Trophy for Champion Chardonnay

Domaine Rewa Chardonnay 2015

Otago

Vineyard: Domaine Rewa

Grower: Philippa Fourbet

ENDS

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