30 August 2005
Triple Scoop In Wine Awards For Lowburn Ferry
Lowburn Ferry Vineyard in Central Otago scooped three of the top trophies, including CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW at the
Bragato Wine Awards held in Gisborne on Saturday night. The winning wine was Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003, made from
the first vintage harvested on the 3ha vineyard in the Lowburn Valley, 5km north of Cromwell in Central Otago.
The Bragato Wine Awards 2005 were held in conjunction with the annual grape and wine industry Romeo Bragato Conference
in Gisborne. These awards are unique in New Zealand in that they recognise the grapegrowers, the vineyard and excellence
in viticultural practice. Viticulturalist Roger Gibson also picked up the coveted Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy for
Champion Pinot Noir Table Wine, and the trophy for Champion Red Table Wine.
“Mike Wolter had identified Lowburn as one of the sub-regions where he could see some great pinot noir was going to be
grown, and it’s good to be bringing the Mike Wolter Trophy to Lowburn for the first time,” Roger said. Mike Wolter was a
pioneering winemaker in the region.
“It’s a thrill to have achieved such a milestone with our first vintage, but it is also great to receive confirmation
that the soils and climate of Lowburn Ferry Vineyard are so well suited to growing premium pinot noir.”
Lowburn Ferry is the area surrounding an historic ferry crossing over the mighty Clutha River in Central Otago. The
formation of Lake Dunstan about 10 years ago destroyed the last evidence of the ferry crossing, but the punt and
distinctive “Sugarloaf” terraces are embraced in the winery’s branding. The vineyard was established in 2000, nestled on
a sheltered north facing terrace in the Lowburn Valley beneath the Pisa Range. It is managed by Roger and Jean Gibson.
The Bragato awards success for Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003 follows a run of serious reviews from notable wine writers
including a rating of 18 out of 20 by UK wine critic Jancis Robinson, and five star honours in Cuisine magazine.
The trophies return to Central Otago after having been won last year by Robin Dicey, viticulturalist for Mt Difficulty
in a similar triple scoop. 640 wines were entered in this year’s competition – and three Central Otago wines won gold
medals.
Roger said Lowburn Ferry Wines would be extremely limited for at least the next two to three years. Anyone wishing to
pre-order the 2004 wine or join a mailing list to be notified of new releases can log on to lowburnferry.co.nz or email
wine@lowburnferry.co.nz.
Photos will be available shortly on the web site at this address :
http://www.lowburnferry.co.nz/lowburnferry/mediainformation.html
ENDS