Hawkshead Pinot Gris and Riesling receive Cuisine Five Star Awards

Hawkshead Pinot Gris 2011 and Hawkshead Riesling 2011 have both been awarded five stars in the annual aromatics tasting in Cuisine magazine’s latest issue.

The Pinot Gris from Hawkshead’s single vineyard Lark Block at Gibbston, Central Otago, was also rated the second best wine overall from 167 Pinot Gris tasted.

Wine writer and associate judge on the Cuisine panel, John Saker, described the Pinot Gris as “all purity and youthful exuberance, splashing over the taste buds with the freshness of a mountain stream”.

The five-star Hawkshead Riesling 2011, from a single vineyard at Bendigo, was described as “wind-blown orchard blossom….a wonderful delicate, poised and individual expression [of Riesling].” This wine was also rated a Cuisine ‘Best Buy’.

Denis Marshall and Ulrike Kurenbach, owners of Hawkshead Vineyard, said they were “absolutely delighted” with the accolades and recognition from New Zealand’s premier wine and food magazine.

“That extra attention given the vines through to harvest is essential to making the best wine, and we should also pay tribute to winemaker Christopher Keys who makes the wines for us just down the road at Gibbston Valley Wines,” said Mr Marshall.

He said both wines had been consistently well received at each new vintage, and had achieved a number of awards each year so the incentive was there to maintain high standards of viticulture.

“The Pinot Gris especially requires constant attention and management to ensure the vines are not over-cropped.

“We drop a lot of fruit from the Pinot Gris to ensure we get the very best results, and people are often aghast when they see big bunches being thinned in the months before harvest.

“But it’s vital to keep the quantity down if we’re going to achieve the highest quality possible.”

Mr Marshall said the couple often laughed at Ulrike’s German upbringing.

“We pull her leg because so often she says ‘we have standards’. Well, adhering to those standards produces the best possible results.”

Both the Hawkshead Pinot Gris 2011 (RRP $24 - $26) and the Hawkshead Riesling 2011 (RRRP $18 - $22) are available all good wine outlets nationally or contact denis@hawksheadwine.com
 

About Hawkshead

In 1841 the naturalist William Swainson, Fellow of the Royal Society, settled in New Zealand and named his first home ‘Hawkshead’, after the village of his ancestors in the English Lake District. In 1995, his descendant Denis Marshall followed his heart and purchased a tiny piece of Central Otago land in the Gibbston Valley, and in the spirit of his pioneering ancestor called it Hawkshead. Denis and his partner Ulrike Kurenbach enjoy a passion for wine and saw an opportunity to establish their first vineyard.

Hawkshead specialises in producing Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling and is recognised for producing award-winning, premium wines. Hawkshead wines are individually crafted in small volumes, embracing a combination of the secrets of the ‘Old World’ with a vibrant New Zealand personality.

Hawkshead’s viticulture philosophy is uncompromising and the majority of vineyard work is carried out by hand. The winery is accredited with Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.