Rockburn Winemaker Wins The Wine Society Sommeliers Choice Award
Press release from Rockburn Wines Ltd.
5 November 2008
Rockburn Winemaker Wins The Wine Society Sommeliers Choice Award
Rockburn Winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis was awarded The Australian Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year Sommeliers
Choice Award for the 2007 Rockburn Pinot Gris at a lavish dinner on 1 November in Sydney.
The award, chosen by 10 of Australia’s top sommeliers, makes Malcolm the first New Zealander to win a Young Winemaker
title since the competition began eight years ago.
The 2008 competition was the closest contested finals ever seen in the competition, with 7 of the 10 finalist winemakers
within three points of winning the highest accolade, from a possible 120 points.
Established in 2001, the Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year Awards recognise the extraordinary talent of
Australia’s and New Zealand’s most promising young winemakers.
Rees-Francis joined Rockburn Wines at their new McNulty Road winery in Cromwell for the 2006 vintage, having spent four
vintages as assistant winemaker at Felton Road Wines.
While renowned for its award winning Pinot Noir, Rockburn also produces Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay
and Sauvignon Blanc.
ENDS