From February 2004, flyers on Virgin Atlantic will be able to drink Waipara Hills' 2003 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

This has won recently won a string of 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) and this export sales success follows closely on the news that Waipara Hills 2003 Riesling won a Blue Gold medal at the 2004 Sydney International Wine.

This follows 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.

Export Sales Manager Ian Blowers said to day, "This is great news. Our 2002 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was carried by Air New Zealand and now our 2003 is flying Virgin Atlantic between London and New York . This will be of great assistance to our sales in both the UK and the US . I just wish we had twice as much in our warehouse."

Waipara Hills produced 6000 cases from 2003 and will produce 8000 in 2004. This volume of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc will grow to 12,000 cases by 2007 but as Ian Blowers' points out "unfortunately it's all allocated to our export agents in Australia , the UK , the US and Canada but we are currently negotiating to contract grapes for another 15,000 cases annually."

Waipara Hills' wines are made by Alan McCorkindale and the 2004 vintage will be processed at the company's new winemaking facility in Blenheim - South Pacific Cellars.

For further information please contact:

Ian Blowers

Export Manager

Tel : 03 344 5052

Mobile : 0275 577929

Fax: 03 344 5053

Email: exports@waiparahills.co.nz