RESULTS
Wines of Canterbury Media Release ; Friday 27 April 2012
Wines of Canterbury are excited to announce the results of the inaugural Canterbury Wine Awards. The event was an unqualified success in terms of the response from the local industry with a high number of wines entered. Forty-three (43) medals were awarded across the seven categories. 50% of the wines entered earned medals.
Dr. Glen Creasy, who is on the Wines of Canterbury executive and is also a Senior Lecturer in viticulture at Lincoln University, was pleased with how the event turned out, “Entries came in from as far south as Kurow and north from Spotswood, near the Waiau River. As well as demonstrating the wide range of terroir Canterbury has to offer, it also emphasises the need for a vehicle to highlight the wines being made here.” The organisers wanted to make the results of this show align more closely with how wine is consumed, so the judges were chosen to represent this and the wines were entered into and evaluations made with reference to different food classes, such as canapé, beef, cheese etc.
The Judges, Jo Bursynska wine writer for the New Zealand Herald, Christchurch Press and others, Kirsten Creasy, Winemaker and Oenologist with Hill Laboratories, and Simon Sheehan, Executive Chef at the ASB Showgrounds, were all in agreement that the concept of judging with food in mind was excellent. “Given that the best wines shine with food, it’s great to see a local wine competition that makes its entries’ compatibility with food part of the judging criteria” said Jo Bursynska, who went on to say that “It was an honour to be invited to judge in its inaugural year”.
The presentation of the awards, and the announcement of the overall trophy winner will take place at the David Jackson Dinner at Tiffany’s Restaurant in Christchurch on 24th May. The dinner is being organised by Wines of Canterbury in partnership with Lincoln University and is open to all members of the viticulture industry. The medal winning wines will be offered at an invitation-only trade tasting for restaurants and wine buyers at the Addington Raceway / Events Centre from 3pm on Tuesday 22 May. Parties interested in attending this event should contact wineshow@winesofcanterbury.co.nz
Event proudly sponsored by Hill Laboratories.
Wines of Canterbury Inc. which supports the region’s grapegrowers and winemakers, covers the area bounded by the catchment area of the Waitaki River to that of the Clarence River in the north. Wines must have been made from grapes grown within these boundaries to be entered into the Awards.