Romeo Bragato Wine Awards 2012
Auckland Chardonnay takes top honours at this year’s Romeo Bragato Awards
An Auckland Chardonnay has been awarded Champion Wine of Show at this year’s Romeo Bragato Wine Awards.
Grown by Brett Donaldson, the Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011 won the coveted Bragato Trophy, the
Bill Irwin Trophy for Champion Chardonnay and the Sustainability Trophy.
The Bragato Wine Awards, held each year as part of the Romeo Bragato conference, are awarded to the grower for
viticultural excellence. The competition recognises that growing excellent grapes is the foundation of making wines of
true quality.
Trophies are awarded to the top wine from each varietal class judged. The diversity of the wine industry was reflected
in the many regions represented in the trophy winning line-up; with trophies being awarded to wines grown in seven
regions.
"Nestled in the crater of a volcano near Auckland International Airport is the Ihumatao Vineyard. Brett Donaldson has
been the vineyard’s manager for the last four years, and he is the only vineyard manager in Mangere. Despite the
challenging growing conditions of heavy rain, peat soils and a high bird population, Brett has provided us with great
fruit to make this wine. " said Mr Powrie, Company Viticulturist for Villa Maria.
Of the competition Olly Masters chairman of judges said “Overall the judges enjoyed and appreciated a group of wines of
a generally high standard. The nature of the Bragato Wine Awards with higher proportion of smaller producers and lower
volume wines does allow a great range of styles to show well.”
“The Champion Wine of Show is a wine that nicely merges the ripe fruit driven and the more mineral styles together,
whilst still maintaining elegance.” said Masters
The competition had 534 entries with 49 gold medals, 109 silver and 226 bronze medals being awarded.
The Trophies were presented at the Bragato Dinner one of the highlights of the Romeo Bragato Conference. Also at the
dinner Robin Dicey, Viticulturist from Central Otago, was inducted as a Fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers.
-ENDS-
2012 BRAGATO WINE AWARDS TROPHY RESULTS
CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW AND BRAGATO TROPHY WINNER
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011
Ihumatao Vineyard - Auckland
Brett Donaldson
RICHARD SMART TROPHY AND RESERVE CHAMPION WINE
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Rockburn Wines – Central Otago
Chris James, Richard Bunton, Paul Halford
SUSTAINABILITY TROPHY
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011
Ihumatao Vineyard - Auckland
Brett Donaldson
NEW ZEALAND WINE CELLARS SPENCE BROTHERS TROPHY AND CHAMPION SAUVIGNON BLANC
Yealands Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Yealands Estate - Marlborough
Peter Yealands
BILL IRWIN TROPHY AND CHAMPION CHARDONNAY
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011
Ihumatao Vineyard - Auckland
Brett Donaldson
CHAMPION SPARKLING WINE
No 1 Family Estate Cuvée Remy NV
No 1 Family Estate
Daniel Le Brun
CHAMPION DESSERT WINE
Pasquale Shrivel 2011
Kurow Estate and Riverside Vineyard - Oamaru
Antonio Pasquale
FRIEDRICH WOHNSIEDLER TROPHY AND CHAMPION RIESLING
Esk Valley Marlborough Dry Riesling 2011
Waldron Vineyard
Jerome Waldron
BROTHER CYPRIAN TROPHY AND CHAMPION PINOT GRIS
Greystone Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2011
Greystone Wines
Bruce Thomas and Nick Gill
CHAMPION OTHER WHITE WINE
Coopers Creek SV Gisborne Albariño Bell-Ringer 2012
Bell Vineyard – Gisborne
Doug and Delwyn Bell
MIKE WOLTER MEMORIAL TROPHY AND CHAMPION PINOT NOIR
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Rockburn Wines – Central Otago
Chris James, Richard Bunton, Paul Halford
TOM McDONALD MEMORIAL TROPHY AND CHAMPION CLASSICAL RED WINE
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2010
Mere Road – Hawke’s Bay
Paul McEvoy
CHAMPION MERLOT
Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot 2009
Omahu Gravels Vineyard – Hawke’s Bay
Phil Holden
ALAN LIMMER TROPHY AND CHAMPION SYRAH
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010
Trust Vineyard – Hawke’s Bay
Paul McEvoy
CHAMPION OTHER RED WINE
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2009
Omahu Gravels Vineyard – Hawke’s Bay
Phil Holden