Winemaker scores twin first

Kim Crawford shows off the Wine of the Show trophy his Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc took out. Picture / Neil Mackenzie

Winemaker Kim Crawford has a lot to celebrate.

His Marlborough sauvignon blanc Spitfire 2005 took home top honours at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards in Wellington on Saturday night.

Not only was it the first time the trophy had been won by a sauvignon blanc, it was the first time Kim Crawford Wines grabbed the top spot.

"It's the ultimate award," said Crawford yesterday.

Judges chairman Brent Marris said that for a wine to win the main award it had to be an absolute classic and the supreme winner epitomised what a sauvignon blanc should be.

Started nine years ago with sales and marketing managed from a home office and 4000 cases produced at other wineries, Kim Crawford Wines now produces 300,000 cases a year.

In 2003, Vincor International, the world's eighth-largest producer and distributor of wines, acquired the brand name and the rights to sell the brand.

Crawford and wife Erica are still involved in the day-to-day operations and the wines are exported to Britain, Australia, Canada and the US.

This year has been one of firsts for the wine industry.

The 500th winery opened in May and export wine sales now account for more than 50 per cent of total wine sales. The value of exports was $435 million in June, up 44 per cent on the previous year. By 2010, total wine sales are forecast to exceed $1.5 billion. Michelle DaCruz