Media release
14 November 2013
te Pā is Pure Gold at 2013 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
A 2013 Sauvignon Blanc from the critically-acclaimed te Pā Wines has won a prestigious Pure Gold Medal in the Air New
Zealand Wine Awards held on 12 November. The Pure category awards 100% sustainably grown and produced wines.
With grapes from te Pā vineyard in the historically significant Wairau Bar in the Marlborough region, the 2013 te Pā
Sauvignon Blanc was noted for its vibrance and concentration by this year’s 26-strong expert judging panel.
te Pā Director and Proprietor Haysley MacDonald says: “To see our Sauvignon Blanc take out a top medal in New Zealand’s
preeminent wine awards highlights the passion, innovation and expertise of our team and it also showcases the quality
and sustainability of the wines we produce.
“We have a real point of difference with our vineyard’s position in the historical Wairau Bar, which is the earliest
known human settlement in Aotearoa. Our family has been on the land here for 800 years, so we know the environment
inside out.
“Our Sauvignon Blanc uses grapes from a single vineyard rather than multiple sites, which we think offers a richer,
fuller and more honest taste. We’ve got rich top soil over fine alluvial gravels which come together to produce what we
think (and judges seem to agree) is a Pure Gold drop. Our vineyards are bordered by the mighty Wairau River and the
ocean so this wine is perfectly matched with fresh seafood - think simple whitebait fritters or kawahai with a squeeze
of lemon and a glass of chilled te Pā Sauvignon Blanc… it really is pure gold.”
MacDonald says the well-received 2013 vintage is a great follow up to the phenomenal success of te Pā’s first vintage in
2011, which was named New Zealand’s Top Sauvignon Blanc and given five stars by Cuisine Magazine. The first vintage was
also awarded a Blue Gold accolade and named in the top 100 at the Sydney International Wine Competition.
MacDonald also acknowledged the contribution of internationally acclaimed winemaker Liam McElhinney, who has been
involved in crafting te Pā’s style since the brand’s inception in 2011.
MacDonald says the Pure Gold medal for the 2013 vintage will give further support to te Pā’s position in the local
market and the vineyard’s international distribution activities, which include the UK and Asia.
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About te Pā Wines
The MacDonald family has ties to te Pā going back 800 years. The family planted grapes in 2003 and now has 150 hectares
in vines. te Pā’s emphasis on sustainability and a quality-over-quantity approach has seen the Wairau Bar producer
collect a series of prestigious industry awards since releasing its first vintage in 2011. Visit www.tepawines.com to
learn more about te Pā’s award winning wines and the people behind them.