17 September 2012
Marisco Vineyards wins NZ Wine Producer of the Year in China
Marisco Vineyards has been awarded the Trophy for New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year at the China Wine and Spirits
Awards. The company’s wines also won four double-gold, six gold and two silver medals in the prestigious annual
competition, continuing their golden run in the rapidly growing Chinese wine market.
Chief Winemaker and Proprietor Brent Marris says the trophy and medal haul will consolidate The King’s Series and The
Ned’s position as market leading New Zealand wine brands in China.
“The Chinese market is very complex. One of the challenges is that it is culturally a very status driven market so old
world wines have tended to dominate. But awards like this endow enormous status on our brands, new world wines
generally, and New Zealand wines specifically, and this win will build our brand profile, and help increase distribution
and cement our foothold in the Chinese market,” Marris says.
Marisco Vineyards has distributed its wines in China since June 2011 under a national distribution agreement with
Tianjin Dynasty International Wine Co., China’s leading premium wine producer.
“When we moved into China we spent a lot of time understanding the market, and establishing a distribution arrangement
that would give us the best chance of success,” says Marris.
“But ongoing success demands that we continue to invest in China, and that we keep responding to their unique needs.
This means spending plenty of time on the ground there; demonstrating that we respect their business; and helping to
educate Chinese consumers about New Zealand wine.”
The China Wine Awards are the only awards in the world judged specifically for the China market and are entirely focused
on consumer preferences and demand.
In addition to winning the trophy for New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year, the medal results from the show for Marisco
Vineyards wines are:
King’s Series, The Kings Bastard 2011 – Double Gold*
King’s Series, The Kings Bastard 2012 – Double Gold
The Ned, Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2011 – Double Gold
The Ned, Pinot Noir 2012 – Double Gold
King’s Series, A Sticky End 2011 – Gold
King’s Series, The Kings Wrath 2012 – Gold
The Ned, Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2012 – Gold
The Ned, Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – Gold
King’s Series, The Kings Favour 2012 – Gold
King’s Series, The Kings Thorn 2012 – Gold
King’s Series, A Sticky End 2012 – Silver
The Ned, Pinot Gris 2013 – Silver
* Double Gold is the highest award in the show and means that the wine has scored more than 85points by the judges.
ENDS