Queenstown, Monday 9 October 2006
Gibbston Valley Wines Golden Pinot Gris
Gibbston Valley Wines was awarded Gold Medal for their 2006 Pinot Gris at the awards dinner for the Liquorland Top 100
International Wine Competition in Wellington on Friday night.
Pinot gris is a white wine closely related to the red pinot noir for which Central Otago winery Gibbston Valley Wines is
famous. It is fast becoming very popular with New Zealand wine drinkers for its vibrant fresh varietal flavours and its
ability to match well with food.
Wines from Australia to Alsace competed on a level field, and it is exciting to see New Zealand at the very top of the
list. “We are thrilled with the award," says Gibbston Valley. "2006 in Central Otago was a vintage from heaven producing
both very good yields and outstanding quality. The kind of vintage we all dream about but rarely experience. This wine
is a real stunner. It is bigger and bolder than any pinot gris we have produced before, but not at the expense of
elegance. This Gold Medal is testimony to the fabulous conditions of the 2006 vintage and to the dedication and zeal of
both the vineyard crew and the winemaking."
The Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Competition is open to wines from all over the world, across all categories
and price ranges, so competition is tough. Only 5% of this years more than 1400 wines achieved Gold Medal, and only
three Gold Medals were awarded in the Pinot Gris class.
Gibbston Valley Wines is a boutique producer of the highest quality wines, set in Queenstown's spectacular Gibbston
Valley. They are one of the original pioneers of the Central Otago wine region and produced the first commercial vintage
for the region in 1987. Today it is NZ's most visited winery. It comprises vineyard, wine cave, restaurant, wine tours,
courtyard alfresco dining, wine sales and gift shop. Gibbston Valley Wines has won more awards for Pinot Noir than any
other winery in New Zealand, including the trophy at the London International Wine Challenge for the top Pinot
Noir/Burgundy in the world.
ENDS