World famous in Gisborne . . . and China

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World famous in Gisborne . . . and China

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

GISBORNE wines have won a trophy and two double gold medals in the biggest wine awards for the China market — the China Wine Awards.

Steve and Eileen Voysey’s Spade Oak 2009 Noble Viognier won double gold and took the trophy for the New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year 2012.

It also took double gold for its 2010 Viognier.

Mr Voysey says this success is especially exciting because there is a container of Spade Oak red wine heading to China in November.

The Spade Oak golds were two of the 19 medals awarded to NZ.

Mr Voysey said it was good to see Gisborne wines performing so well on the world stage.

“As a variety, Viognier does well in the Gisborne climate where the ripe stone fruit flavours shine.

“We chose to enter the Viognier in the belief that it would be a variety the Chinese market would like due to the natural saltiness and texture from the phenolic structure.

“We are thrilled that the results proved us right.”

In their own vineyard in the centre of the Gisborne flats, they use a mix of “old world” traditional techniques with the narrow rows, low fruit zone, natural wild yeast, time and “new world” techniques such as gentle fining, filtration and reductive handling.

Combining red and white varieties that are complemented to suit each other, express and explore the potential of the region, is very much in the foreground of their planning.

They have taken varieties from the Burgundy and Champagne regions, Rhone, Austria, Spain and Southern France regions, with a focus on new varieties for Gisborne.

The CWA are the only awards in the world judged specifically for the China market, and are entirely focused on consumer preferences and demand.

More than 2000 wines and spirits from producers from 37 countries competed for the most prestigious accolade in the Chinese market.

The judges are 100 of the most influential wine and spirits importers, distributors, food and beverage directors and sommeliers – all based in Greater China.

WINE FOR CHINA: Steve and Eileen Voysey’s Spade Oak 2009 Noble Viognier won double gold and took out the trophy for the New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year 2012. It also took double gold for its 2010 Viognier. Picture by Dave Thomas

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