Remarkable success continues for Gibbston Valley School House Pinot Noir at the 2013 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Friday 15 November 2013, 2:23PM
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Multi award-winning Gibbston Valley Winery is celebrating once again after receiving its fourth consecutive Pure Gold Medal for its premium 2012 School House Pinot Noir at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
The results of this year’s awards were issued earlier this week (November 13 2013) by the New Zealand Winegrowers Association marking an unprecedented success for the winery.
The first Gibbston Valley School House Pinot Noir, from the 2009 vintage, was awarded Pure Gold in the 2010 Air NZ Wine Awards, a feat repeated by each subsequent vintage
(2010, 2011, 2012).
Before the awards were announced, winemaker Christopher Keys said the Gibbston Valley team was “interested to see if this uninterrupted run of success would continue with the 2012 vintage”.
“This vineyard’s unique characteristics are improving with vine age. What a tremendous vineyard. It’s a special site and delivers the most beautiful fruit every year. We’re really blessed to have it.
“This is a very happy result for us,” said Mr Keys.
Of the four Pure Gold winning vintages, Keys feels the 2012 Gibbston Valley School House Pinot Noir has the potential to “be the best”.
“I think it has a lovely balance - it is set for a long life. As the vines age we are seeing this vineyard hit its straps,” said Mr Keys.
The same wine drew special praise recently from New Zealand wine writer Raymond Chan, who said the School House was an “out of the box” pinot noir.
“Something special has happened from this site in this vintage. Dark with intense black fruits, the concentration is stunning and startling. The power and length is a feature in what seems to be a remarkable wine. I can’t wait to see this again with some time on it,” said Mr Chan.
For Gibbston Valley, the award success was magnified with a second Pure Gold for the 2012 Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir.
“This is our highest volume Pinot Noir, so that is a great result,” said Mr Keys.
“It’s a clear pointer to the quality of the 2012 vintage in Central Otago.”
“I’m extremely pleased with the region’s success this year.”
About the award-winning wine
The 2012 School House Pinot Noir is a single vineyard wine from the School House Vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago. The vineyard is planted on a spectacular north facing slope, up to 420 metres above sea level. It is one of four vineyards nationally involved in an organic conversion focus trial. The wine is entirely from this site and is bottled without fining or filtration. Gibbston Valley Wines are available from Gibbston Valley Winery and fine wine outlets.
About Air New Zealand Wine Awards
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards is organised and owned by New Zealand Winegrowers and is well-known for its rigorous judging process. It is considered the country’s most prestigious wine competition and is the official competition of the New Zealand wine industry. The judging panel consisted of 26 judges including two international judges, US wine writer Dan Berger, Swedish Master of Wine Madeleine Stenwreth and 13 senior judges.
About Gibbston Valley Winery
Founded by Alan Brady, Gibbston Valley Winery has a winemaking legacy in Central Otago that spans more than 30 years. The Winery produced the region’s first commercial wines in 1987. Since it was founded the winery has won more than 300 national and international awards. It continues to remain focused on crafting wines from some of Central Otago’s oldest and highest vineyards.
Along with creating award-winning wines, Gibbston Valley is home to a gourmet restaurant and New Zealand’s largest wine cave, available for wine tours, private functions, weddings and special occasions. The Barrel Hall is another one of the winery’s function venues. In June 2013, the winery opened A Taste of Gibbston Valley on the main street of historic Arrowtown.