Rockburn’s “Young Winemaker of the Year” Finalist

25th September 2012

Rockburn’s “Young Winemaker of the Year” Finalist challenges Marlborough’s mantle

The partying continues at the Rockburn Winery in Cromwell. Not only has their winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis been named one of only 10 Finalists in the Wine Society of Australia Young Winemaker competition, but they have also gatecrashed a usually Marlborough-only party by collecting Gold for their 2011 Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc at the New Zealand International Wine Show.

The NZIWS received a record number of entries with 2122 wines entered from thirteen countries, and proceeded to hand out 224 Gold medals, including 23 in the Sauvignon Blanc category. The Rockburn 2011 is the first Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc to be awarded Gold in the history of the competition.

“Gosh,” commented the bemused winemaker. “We’re actually trying to make something pretty different to the world-famous Marlborough style, so you don’t expect to be so highly awarded under competition conditions. Many thanks to the Judges for being so brave!”

Rockburn’s latest Gold medal arrives the same week as the Finalists were announced for the annual Young Winemaker of the Year Competition, which will award its 3 Trophies at an intimate dinner at Aria, Sydney on the 9th of November. Run by The Wine Society of Australia since 2000, this year the judges received nearly 50 nominations, and with three wines submitted by each nominee they had over 140 wines to contemplate. Of the 10 Finalists only three are Kiwis; to date the only New Zealander to collect an award from the competition is Rockburn’s winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis, taking away the Sommeliers Choice Trophy in 2008. He is a Finalist again this year.

Malcolm points out “It’s a tough competition; we submitted our very strongest wines to try and impress those Aussie palates. Making it to the Finals is a great honour and our fingers are crossed for November 9!”

http://www.nziws.co.nz/
http://www.youngwinemaker.com.au/
www.rockburn.co.nz

ENDS

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