Sacred Hill wins long remembered

LANDMARK: Sacred Hill was established by the Mason family in 1986.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

IT had been a thrill and a real boost to the crew at Sacred Hill to win the 2004 Champion Wine of Show at the region's greatest gathering of its wines and winemakers.

And then a year later, there was Tony Bish again making his way to the stage to be presented with that greatest of accolades - for the second year running.

Their Thief Syrah had stolen the night.

"It certainly was great to win the Champion Wine of the Show in two consecutive vintages," he said.

Sacred Hill, which was established by the Mason family in 1986, had only just got started across the Gimblett Gravels for the winning vintages.

"The Wine Thief Syrah was off the Woodlands vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels.

"Its success underlined the power of the unique region.

"We are now producing wines of even more depth and power as our (Gimblett Gravels) vineyard has matured and we now have the required vine age to make more concentrated wines."

Just like its 2004 winner, the Helmsman Cabernet Merlot 2002, the syrah quickly sold out.

Mr Bish said there were a few still about in private cellars.

Of the company's name, Sacred Hill, it comes from the English translation of Puketapu.