Yealands Wine Group (Yealands) have received the ultimate recognition at the 2016 Air New Zealand Wine Awards, taking away two trophies for Champion Open Red Wine for their Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 and Champion Sauvignon Blanc for their Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc 2016.
This was the second trophy for Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 which, just recently, was awarded a Food Match Trophy at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition 2016 (HKIWSC) for “Best wine with honey glazed char siu”.
Yealands were notified of their fantastic Air New Zealand Wine Awards trophies at the dedicated Awards Dinner and Ceremony held in Auckland on Saturday 12th November, with Chief Winemaker, Jeff Fyfe, on hand to receive the trophies on the night. Joining him at the celebration was the companies’ Founder and Principal, Peter Yealands, who was delighted to have been there to share in the Winemaking Team’s triumphs.
The expert panel of international and local judges also awarded gold medals to Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016 and Crossroads Winemakers Collection Cabernet Merlot 2013. Yealands, in total, were awarded an exceptional 32 medals- their highest medal haul to date at this competition. This result follows a very successful run at the Sydney International Wine Competition 2017 where Yealands received three Top 100/Blue-Gold medals for their Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Peter Yealands Pinot Noir 2015 and Crossroads Winemakers Collection Syrah 2014, along with six other Blue-Gold and Gold medals.
Chief Winemaker for Yealands, Jeff Fyfe, was excited to once again see such diversity in the wines being recognised with trophies and gold medals. “These results really highlight the fantastic quality we are managing to achieve right across our range. For wines at such different price points to be judged as Champions in their class and as the gold standard is brilliant and shows we truly have something for everyone. I’m especially pleased to see our Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir being recognised as this represents the purest expression of our beautiful Seaview Vineyard in the Awatere Valley. For the Air New Zealand Wine Award judges to recognise this is very special.”
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards, which is owned and managed by New Zealand Winegrowers, is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious wine competitions. This year, in particular, is special as it marks 30 years as the naming rights sponsor for Air New Zealand.
Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc has a recommended retail price of $17.95
Crossroads Winemakers Collection Cabernet Merlot has a recommended retail price of $39.95
Both are available from the Yealands Estate Cellar Door (www.yealandswinecellar.co.nz)
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir has a recommended retail price of $26.95
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc has a recommended retail price of $22.95
Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc has a recommended retail price of $14.95
Peter Yealands Pinot Noir has a recommended retail price of $18.95
All are available nationwide from liquor retailers as well as the Yealands Estate Cellar Door.
About Yealands Wine Group
Yealands Wine Group was formed in September 2011, when Yealands Estate acquired the well-established Hawke’s Bay boutique winery, Crossroads, and successful Marlborough brand The Crossings. The combined entity is now one of the largest privately-owned wine companies in New Zealand, with a global reach of more than 70 international markets.
The global brands of the combined portfolio include: Yealands Family Wines; Yealands Estate and Peter Yealands Wines as well as Crossroads and The Crossings.