Three Hawke's Bay wineries have picked up gold medals at this year's International Aromatic Wine Competition which is run annually by the Canterbury A&P Society.
The awards were announced on Wednesday and saw Clearview Estate take gold for its 2014 Golden Gewurztraminer in that varietal class, Osawa Wines with its Prestige Collection Late Harvest Chardonnay 2013 in the sweet aromatics class and Esk Valley for its Hawke's Bay Pinot Gris 2014 in the pinot gris class.
For Clearview Estate's winemaker Barry Riwai the win was the first for this season's gewurztraminer and backed up what visitors to the winery had confirmed, as it had become one of their most popular on the wine list.
He said there was a taste preconception about "gewurzt" which, due to its "floral boutique of rose petals and talcum powder", occasionally resulted in the variety being referred to as "an old lady's handbag".
"But once they do try it they love it," he said, adding that as a warmer climate wine the Clearview variety was more balanced with a ginger and lychee freshness.