Waiwera Mineral Water – Named Best in the World

Waiwera Mineral Water – Named Best in the World
Ultimate accolade for NZ mineral water.

New Zealanders are being urged to celebrate another international win with a glass of bubbles..Waiwera Infinity mineral water, judged “best in the world” by international wine bible, Decanter magazine.

Decanter’s panel - made up of Masters of Wine, top sommeliers and some of the most experienced palates in Europe – voted Waiwera the supreme winner in a blind taste test of twenty four (24) international waters and a two (2) London tap waters.

The significance of the award is a huge accolade for the company which prides itself on its authenticity, according to director, Fraser Brown.

“It’s great to have such a well respected international magazine affirm what we have been saying about our water for years. We have always known that our water is of the highest quality in the world, so having the most respected wine magazine in the world name our little kiwi brand the best water in the world is about the best Christmas present we could ask for.”

Waiwera Mineral Water (pronounced: why-where-ah and meaning hot water) was first bottled and sold in 1875, four years before Evian (which came in at 14th in the taste test) making it the oldest bottled mineral water in New Zealand, and one of the oldest in the world.

The artesian water is sourced from a geothermal aquifer deep beneath the beautiful Waiwera valley on the hibiscus coast, north of Auckland, and bottled at source. The first “Spa” in the southern hemisphere, Waiwera has been famous for the curative and therapeutic properties of its waters for more than two hundred (200) years. Local Maori believed it to be so powerful they named it “Te Rata” (the doctor) and by the late 1870’s Waiwera was a world renowned spa destination with people travelling from as far away as Europe just to “take the waters.”

In 2006 Waiwera, a 100% New Zealand family owned business, relaunched the famous brand in a range of iconic glass and plastic bottles with a design based on the original bottle from 1875. The bottles have picked up several local and international design awards including “best bottle in glass” at the bottled water world international design awards in Italy, in 2006 and the overall “best packaging” award at the 2007 NZ Juice and Beverage awards. At the same awards the brand was also named “ Best Sparkling Water” in both the local and International categories.

Interestingly, a London water sourced from a tap in South Kensington, scored higher than most of the international brands, some of which cost thousands of times more. Decanter editor Guy Woodward said “the tasting was instructive in showing up the 'outrageous' prices charged for mineral waters – which rival the 'scandalous' markups on wine.”

“I think it’s great!” says Brown. “Our whole philosophy is about putting the best water in the world, into the best bottles in the world, and making it accessible to everyone. The prices that some establishments are charging for, quite frankly, over rated waters are crazy. This is exactly why Waiwera is not only served in some of the world’s best restaurants and hotels (Claridges in London, the TRUMP hotels in Chicago and Partingtons in Auckland) but is also available in almost every supermarket in the country.”

Brown and the Waiwera team, lead by founder John St Clair Brown will of course be celebrating in style for the festive season with the world’s best bubbly. Waiwera Infinity Mineral Water.

ENDS

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