Bumper Harvest Promises Spectacular 2008 Tipples

Media Release 7 May 2008

Bumper Harvest Promises Spectacular 2008 Tipples From Mud House Wines

In the wake of a brilliant summer – the best in a decade – the team at Mud House Wines is savouring the imminent prospect of a fine vintage. While patchy rain at summer’s end made the last of the picking a slightly soggy affair for a few vineyards, the geographical spread of vineyards owned by the Waipara-based wine company will ensure a stellar range of 2008 vintage wines.

The strength of this year’s harvest was signaled in mid-March by manager reports from the Waipara vineyards The Mound, Dunstaffnage and Glasnevin, which noted that the light rainfall and diurnal weather – settled, with cooler nights and daytime temperatures in the mid-20s – was ideal for good-quality grapes.

In the end, the crop was even larger than vineyard managers predicted, with the quantity taking the whole industry by surprise and sending wineries scrambling for more tanks to contain the abundance of juice.

At the company’s Central Otago vineyard, over a third of the vineyard’s fruit was specially selected to be carefully handpicked with the future intention of crafting a super premium Bendigo Pinot Noir.

Mud House Wines’ Chief Winemaker Ant Mackenzie said the late-summer Marlborough rain had fortunately been isolated, and that the company’s spread of vineyards (contracted and company-owned) in the region meant he could pick and choose the best parcels for the Mud House labels.

The company has also benefited from its complete ownership of the required resources, from harvesters to wineries, during what has been a difficult vintage because of the higher than expected yields and ill-timed rainfall – particularly in the Marlborough region.
“Many regions have had a cracker,” Mr Mackenzie said. “The Awatere Valley has had a great vintage, along with Central Otago and our Waipara vineyards, where the wines are looking fantastic, particularly the Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Last year’s Riesling from The Mound vineyard received a five-star CUISINE magazine recommendation, and we’re pleased that this year’s looks to be of the same quality, if not better.”

Mud House Wines CEO Baden Ngan Kee said that with the 2007 vintage picking up awards and accolades in New Zealand and overseas, his team was thrilled at the prospect of an even better 2008 production.

Recent plaudits for Mud House Wines include 12 awards in the 2008 Pacific Rim Wine Competition and 16 medals in the 2008 Royal Easter Show. As well, the award-winning 2007 Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has been selected by renowned chef and restaurateur Rick Stein for the wine list of his prestigious family of restaurants in Cornwall, UK, and the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc of Haymaker by Mud House was chosen by a Master Sommelier for the wine list onboard Delta Airlines, the world’s second-largest airline.

Mr Mackenzie said thanks to the high-volume outcome of the long, hot summer, there were high-quality grapes across all varietals. “It’s particularly after a season like this that we appreciate having a broad geographical spread of vineyards from which to choose, and we’re enjoying the winemaking process as much as ever.”

ENDS

About Mud House Wines

The award-winning Mud House range of wines is produced from a variety of New Zealand vineyards. Fruit is sourced from many of the country’s premium wine-growing regions resulting in wines of optimal varietal character and flavour. The new, three-tiered range from Mud House Wines is comprised of the flagship, high-end Mud House Swan; the premium Mud House, at a competitive price point; and the highly affordable Haymaker by Mud House, designed as the perfect food partner. The Mud House Swan Sauvignon Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir won Gold, and the Mud House Waipara Riesling an Elite Gold Medal, at the 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

The Mud House is a winery and café situated in Waipara Valley where several of the Mud House wines are crafted. Visitors to the café can sample sumptuous food and wine matches from resident chef Tony Clarke and his team.

Mud House has just launched a new website www.mudhouse.co.nz.

Mud House wines are distributed by Vintners New Zealand.

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