Champion Pinot Noir Trophy for Lowburn Ferry

PRESS RELEASE: 20 SEPTEMBER 2010

Champion Pinot Noir Trophy for Lowburn Ferry at New Zealands Largest Wine Show - the New Zealand International Wine Show

LOWBURN FERRY "HOME BLOCK" PINOT NOIR 2009, from Central Otago, was named Champion Pinot Noir at New Zealand's largest wine competition on Saturday. Taking the top award at the NZ International Wine Show in Auckland from a field of over 250 Pinot Noir, of which 28 won gold medals, was "stunning" according to owners Roger and Jean Gibson. The wine has also won a gold medal at the recent Bragato wine awards and 5 stars from leading New Zealand wine critic Bob Campbell, MW.

“It’s fantastic to have another very significant trophy under our belt,” said Roger. “Our first vintage was 2003 and this wine took Champion of Show at the Bragato wine awards in 2005. Since then all our wines have won golds at significant wine competitions but it is a great feeling to top the field again“.

It was also timely as the wine is about to be released on the market. Lowburn Ferry produces only Pinot Noir and over 70 percent is exported.

“We've always felt our block in the Lowburn valley is a little special. Deep loess silt soils unusually high in organic matter give us the essential ingredients to start working from to produce great grapes.”

Viticultural manager Roger Gibson previously worked as a landscape ecologist for Landcare Research and has a background in science. "We take a holistic but very much no nonsense approach to managing the vines. We keep our feet on the ground, our hands on the vines and our brains turned on,” he says. The family work closely with the team at Vinpro winery in Cromwell who are an essential part of the success factor. Roger tutors viticulture part time at the Otago Polytechnic,s Cromwell campus. "I get a buzz out of challenging the students to think about their management and to understand how it impacts on vine physiology and soils in a logical manner,” he says.

Lowburn Ferry is the area surrounding an historic ferry crossing over the mighty Clutha River in Central Otago. The former punt and distinctive "Sugarloaf" terraces are embraced in the winery's branding. The vineyard was established in 2000, nestled on a sheltered north facing terrace in the Lowburn Valley beneath the Pisa Range. Owners Roger and Jean Gibson have an academic background in soil science and horticulture, and are totally focused on producing the best pinot noir wine from their special site in the Lowburn Valley.

For more information, visit www.lowburnferry.co.nz

ENDS

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