The prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards dinner took place on Saturday night at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre and Mission Estate are celebrating after taking home two of the prestigious trophy awards.

Mission Reserve Syrah 2015 won the trophy in the coveted Champion Syrah category and the strength of Mission reds was proved further with the Reserve Cabernet Franc 2014 winning the trophy in the Champion Exhibition Red Wine category.

Mission Estate’s Chief Executive, Peter Holley said it was a huge honour to be awarded with not one, but two trophies at the awards, “We’re absolutely rapt with the double win.  These awards are an affirmation of Mission Estate’s competitive style and quality amid the country’s most acclaimed wines and winemakers.”

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards is widely regarded as the premier wine competition in New Zealand. Nearly 1,400 wines were judged by a team of local and international judges and only 18 trophies were awarded, along with 39 Elite Gold Medals.  Wines at this level are of exceptional quality

Paul Mooney, Mission Estate’s chief winemaker describes how Mission Estate planted the Syrah grapes back in 1944 but the “heavy soils” near the winery weren’t conducive to great wine. “It’s always about fruit supply,” he said. “We have two vineyards in Gimblett Gravels, which is part of the reason this was a great wine.  The gravelly soils give fantastic flavours to the Syrah on those sites.”

Paul also attributes the success at this year’s awards to teamwork, “We’ve got great cellar staff and our viticulturist Steve Wheeler is fantastic.”

Mission Estate wines are available from www.missionestate.co.nz

About Mission Estate:

At Mission Estate, we have been perfecting our craft since 1851.  By combining the traditional craft of winemaking with the latest technology, we are reaching out to a new generation of wine lovers across the globe.