NZ pinot noir tops international wine competition
05 Sep 2008
A New Zealand winemaker has scooped the world’s largest wine competition winning the top red wine award.
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 was awarded the coveted Top Red Wine trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London this week, after beating 31 other red wine trophy winners from around the globe in the final judging round.
With more than 9000 wines in contention, the International Wine Challenge - considered the Oscars of the wine trade - is the world's largest wine competition.
Five wine trophies
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 took five trophies at the event, including Top International Pinot Noir, Top New Zealand Red Wine and Top International Red Wine.
The wine has already won a number of accolades. In May, at the Decanter World Wine Awards - the second largest wine show globally - Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 was awarded the Top New Zealand Pinot Noir trophy, and it has previously received gold medals in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Central Otago wines
Established in 1998, Wild Earth Wines is a family owned business in the southern New Zealand region of Central Otago.
Surrounded by stunning alpine landscape, Central Otago is famed for hot dry summers and frosty cold winters, providing favourable yet challenging conditions for winegrowing. It is regarded as one of New Zealand’s premium winegrowing regions.
"This latest trophy simply re-emphasises the incredible potential of the wines from this region," Wild Earth owners, Quintin and Avril Quider said.
Third vintage
Wild Earth wines are estate-grown, and the winning wine came from its third vintage.
Wild Earth Wines' general manager Dave Nicholas said the win was an astounding accomplishment for a winery that was established just 10 years ago.
"It's great that a New Zealand pinot has beaten the likes of cabernet from the Napa Valley and shiraz from Australia."
Nicholas said the awards proved New Zealand could do more than just white wines well.
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