MEDIA RELEASE
31st October 2006
Medal wins for Martinborough at International Chardonnay Challenge
Four Martinborough wines claimed medals at the International Chardonnay Challenge in Gisborne last week.
Silver medals were awarded to Palliser Estate's 2005 Chardonnay and The Cabbage Tree Vineyard's 2004 Chardonnay. Bronze
medals were awarded to two Alana Estate wines – the 2004 Chardonnay and the 2004 Shelter Belt Chardonnay.
More than 500 wines competed in the Challenge. Although dominated by New Zealand and Australian wines, the Challenge
also attracted entries from vineyards in South Africa, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Chile, France, and India.
"This is a great result for Martinborough because our region is more familiarly known for its other varietals," says
Wines from Martinborough executive officer, Cath Hopkin.
"Chardonnay is New Zealand's top selling wine and the medals awarded to Martinborough wines show that our region is
capable of producing a range of wines of great calibre that compare favourably with other regions."
The competition promotes the chardonnay wine style and provides an international benchmark to assess New Zealand wines.
In just seven years, the Challenge has become the Southern Hemisphere's largest chardonnay competition.
Martinborough contributes just two percent of New Zealand's total wine vintage, but is renowned for its boutique wines
of great concentration and individuality.
See www.winesfrommartinborough.co.nz for more information about Martinborough vineyards.
ENDS