21st Century Gold Rush!

Spring has come to the Waipara Valley region, but the growing buzz in the industry is not centred around the new growth, instead it’s the ripples being made by the region’s wine at a national and international level. This year has seen record numbers of wines recognised as Gold medal wines and the accolades keep on pouring in.

The most recent Gold was awarded today to Greystone Wines in the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Their 2013 Pinot Noir was awarded a Pure Gold in the show. The overall winner and trophies for this show are announced at the black tie dinner on 22 November.

The 2014 International Aromatic Competition which runs alongside the Canterbury A&P Show awarded a Gold medal to the Georges Road, Pinot Gris 2013, along with 6 silver medals for the region.

In October, Mud House took home the top Trophy from the Canberra International Riesling Challenge for their 2013 Mud House Estate The Mound Waipara Valley Riesling.

At the start of October Greystone’s Thistle Ridge Pinot Noir 2013 was named the Champion Red Wine of the 2014 New World Wine Awards. At the same show gold medals were awarded to Sherwood Estate Signature Family Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2103, Main Divide Pinot Noir 2013 and Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Riesling 2013.

In September the results of the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards were announced and Greystone Brothers' Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 won the trophy for best Pinot Noir in New Zealand (over £15). The wine then went on to win the International Trophy for Best Pinot Noir, beating France, Germany, Oregon, Slovenia and Chile in the final! Along with this Gold the region received three silver and seven bronze medals at the competition.

Waipara Valley North Canterbury Marketing spokesman, Geoff Shier said “the continuing ability of Wai- para Valley wines to win significant local and international awards is testament to both the micro-climate, the soils in the region, and the winemaking skills concentrated in the North Canterbury region”.

The association is delighted with the success of it members over the last two months and is looking for- ward to a fantastic season for growers this year.

Waipara Valley North Canterbury Inc represents 74 vineyards, including 21 wineries, 12 cellar doors and four winery restaurants. The region has 355Ha Pinot Noir planted, 343Ha Sauvignon Blanc, 260Ha Ries- ling, 185Ha Pinot Gris and 71Ha Chardonnay. Ends.