Press Release 30 September 2013
Trophy for Mud House at 2013 New Zealand International Wine Show
Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012 Claims Commercial Red Wine Trophy and Gold at the 2013 New Zealand International Wine Show!
Trophies were revealed on Saturday night to a full house at the Crown Plaza in Auckland; complete with wine makers, wine enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs. The Awards were established in 2005 and it is the largest wine competition held in New Zealand. Renowned senior wine judge and leading wine educator, Bob Campbell MW, chaired the experienced panel of wine judges.
Mud House Group Winemaker, Ben Glover, accepted the Trophy for Champion Commercial Red Wine on Saturday night and is thrilled with the result. “At Mud House, Pinot Noir is a wine we’re all passionate about – we live and breathe Pinot! It’s fantastic that the team’s hard work and effort are rewarded. We know we’ve got something very special at our Claim 431 Vineyard in Bendigo and it’s brilliant that the wine speaks of its sense of place.”
Along with the Trophy and Gold Medal for the 2012 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir, Mud House also picked up a Gold Medal for their 2012 Mud House Estate Claim 431 Vineyard Pinot Noir. Nadine Worley, Mud House Winemaker, credits the Claim 431 Vineyard saying “it is one of the jewels in the Mud House crown, a truly special piece of land which continues to impress. It is still a young vineyard, planted in 2003, however each year it gives us more finesse and complexity allowing us to make true Bendigo Pinot Noir.”
The Claim 431 Vineyard, situated in Bendigo has mineral rich, free draining loam soils over schist gravel making it a natural home for growing Pinot Noir. The huge diurnal temperature changes help create intense fruit with balanced acidity, structure and incredible vitality. Central Otago was blessed with a stunning growing season in 2012. Although the season got off to a slow start, the Bendigo basin basked in intense summer sun over December and January ensuring the fruit reached optimum ripeness with ease – a dream run.
This year alone Mud House’s Claim 431 Vineyard has been awarded a swag of medals including:
• TROPHY 2011 Mud House Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir at Japan Wine Challenge
• GOLD 2012 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir at New World Wine Awards
• GOLD 2010 Mud House Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir at Finland Wine of the Year Competition
• GOLD 2011 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir at Selections Mondiales des vins Canada
Media Contact: For more information, images or to set up a media visit with Mud House, please contact Kate Cameron – Communication, PR and Event Coordinator. Phone: + 64 21 222 7858
Email: kate.cameron@nzve.co.nz
More about Claim 431 Vineyard
Bendigo region of Central Otago is an area defined by its natural beauty, dramatic landscape and obdurate flora – steeped in history, the area was mined in the late 1800’s for its mineral wealth.
Set in the warmest area of Central Otago, summertime temperatures can exceed 35ºC during the day, and evening temperatures can drop as low as 2ºC. These vast diurnal temperature changes help create intense and fully ripened fruit while maintaining the acidity, structure and vitality of the Pinot Noir. The free draining, loam schist gravel soils are rich in natural minerals.
Claim 431 Vineyard has been collecting awards since its first vintage in 2006. These include awards from wine shows held both in New Zealand and across the globe. Claim 431 Vineyard is an iconic vineyard which produces exceptional wines:
• 4 Trophies
• 3 Elite Gold Medals
• 35 Gold Medals
• 7 Five Stars
Mud House – A Taste for Adventure
It began as an adventure. Our founders set sail to travel the world, only to arrive in Marlborough and fall in love. After planting vines, they used the local earth to build their home. Two decades on, we continue to celebrate the spirit of striking out and breaking boundaries.
Mud House make consistently beautiful, award-winning wines for people who embrace fresh ideas. The cool climate in the breath-taking South Island gives our wines their iconic new world intensity.
Wherever you are in the world, look for our distinctive label; that’s the best way to celebrate your taste for adventure.
More about our Winemakers
Nadine Worley – Mud House Winemaker:
Originally from South Australia, Nadine Worley studied oenology for four years at Adelaide University, Roseworthy. She began her career in Australia working with cool climate varietals in Victoria and the Adelaide Hills before spending two vintages in Italy. A preference for cool climate winemaking led Nadine to Marlborough where she has been since 2006.
Ben Glover – Group Winemaker:
Thankfully for the wine industry, after growing up on a dairy farm as one of four children, Ben chose a career in wine, not dairying.
After graduating from Canterbury University with a Marketing degree and a Post Graduate degree in Oenology studies from Lincoln University, he embarked on an exponential ride of fifteen vintages with Wither Hills Vineyards. He is a board member for Wine Marlborough and the highly acclaimed Pinot Noir 2013 celebration held in Wellington NZ, earlier in the year.
His selection as the New Zealand representative scholar for the inaugural Len Evans tutorial in 2001 gained him immense insight and resource for his future endeavours. With over 15 years of Australasian wine show judging, it is testament to Ben’s dedication and craft – both as a winemaker and as an appreciative wine drinker.