Christchurch Wine producer, Waipara Hills Wine Estate, has been awarded three gold medals for its 2003 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Gold medals at the 2003 Liquorland Top 100, the 2003 Christchurch Casino Sauvignon Blanc First Taste Award and the 2003 Air New Zealand Wine Show make this the most decorated wine Waipara Hills has produced to date.

It follows in the company’s 2002 Riesling which won a Blue Gold medal and the Best Aromatic Wine Trophy at the 2003 Sydney International Top 100 Wine Show and the gold medal won for the 2001 Reserve Pinot Noir at the 2002 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards.

National Sales Manager Blair Fergus said today that this high standard of wine production and fast-growing list of honours was the result of a business plan based on production of only high-quality wines at affordable prices for the domestic and export markets.

“We work closely with our contract growers in Marlborough, Waipara and Canterbury to produce the best fruit, and with our winemaking teams in Blenheim and Christchurch led by Alan McCorkindale to produce the best wine from that fruit. Our thanks go to those who grew and produced this great result.”

Waipara Hills’ total production has grown from 88 tonne in 2001 to 420 tonne forecast for vintage 2004. Wines are now exported to Australia, the UK, the United States and Canada.

Sales of Waipara Hills’ current and forecast production of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc were fully allocated to existing markets including New Zealand through to vintage 2008.

For further information please contact:
Waipara Hills Sales
Tel: 03 344 5052
Fax: 03 344 5053