Gut feeling proves an international award-winner

Gut feeling proves an international award-winner for Blackenbrook Pinot Noir

Blackenbrook Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 has won a Gold medal and Best in Show for New Zealand Red Wine at one of Europe’s leading wine competitions, the Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards in Germany.

This is the latest in a series of top-shelf wine industry accolades for the Tasman-based family vineyard.

“Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards is now judged twice a year, in February and in August, with nearly 10,000 wines submitted each year,” says Blackenbrook Vineyard co-owner Ursula Schwarzenbach. “Mundus Vini judges are extremely tough and being awarded a gold is a very significant achievement.”

Ursula and Daniel Schwarzenbach are more knowledgeable than most about the rigorous judging process, as Daniel usually chairs a panel at the August tasting.  

Winning gold at Mundus Vini is particularly important for Blackenbrook because Germany is a key export market for its wines. “This accolade will help our German importers to build a premium reputation for our wines,” says Ursula.

It’s particularly satisfying to see a Pinot Noir from Nelson doing so well, she says.

“Nelson is producing world-class Pinot Noir but due to its small production only rarely features in the list of gold medal winners for this noble variety.”

“2014 was a fantastic vintage for us. All the factors lined up to produce amazing concentration in our grapes. All our 2014 wines are of exceptional quality, bringing home two trophies (for Gewürtztraminer and Reserve Pinot Noir) and three Gold Medals.

“From the day we picked the grapes for the 2014 Pinot Noir, Daniel was excited with the quality, always maintaining that this would be the best Pinot Noir so far produced at Blackenbrook – it’s great to see his gut feeling was right!”

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