Waipara Vineyards take top Honours in the 2016 NZ Organic Wine Awards

Terrace Edge from the Waipara Valley has taken out the top honour of ‘Wine of the Show’ for their 2014 Liquid Geography Riesling , while Greystone Wines was recognised as shows ‘Vineyard of the Year’.

Terrace edge viticulturist, Pete Chapman said .it was a great honour for their wine to receive this award”. He said, "the style of the Liquid Geography Riesling seems to have captured people’s imagination. Undoubtedly the Waipara Valley produces some fantasic aromatic wines, especially when they are grown organically”.

Greystone Vineyard, which was named as the Vineyard of the Year and is part of a wider farm which includes organic sheep, biodiversity areas, ponds and an organic olive grove nestled into the Omihi hills in the Waipara Valley. Marketing spokeswoman Rebecca Jones said the company was "delighted with the accolade”. She said "standard of wine created in the vineyard has been outstanding and is a true testament to the region, their winemaker Dominic Maxwell and their viticulturist Mick Gill”. Along with the Vineyard of the year, Greystone were also awarded 3 Gold medals.


Photo courtesy of Waipara Valley North Canterbury Winegrowers

In total Waipara Valley Wines were recognised with 7 Golds medals which equates to over 40% of those awarded in this years show. The Gold medal winning wines were: Terrace Edge 2014 Liquid Geography Riesling; Greystone 2015 Riesling; Greystone 2015 Gewürztraminer; Greystone 2015 Pinot Gris; Black Estate 2015 Netherwood Rose; Black Estate 2015 Damsteep Riesling and Muddy Water 2015 Pinot Noir.

There are seven organic vineyards in the Waipara Valley. The goal of the NZ Organic wine show is to help consumers to easily find, and select a good organic wine.