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A Hawke's Bay syrah has taken the top gong at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Announced at a six-course dinner for 750 at the Christchurch Convention Centre last night, Trinity Hill Homage syrah 2006 was named Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show.
It also won the Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah Trophy.
Another Hawke's Bay wine - Cottage Block Hawke's Bay chardonnay 2006 - won the Bell Gully Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy. It was the first time a sustainability award had been made in New Zealand.
Chairman of judges Steve Smith described the Trinity Hill as "an iron fist in a velvet glove".
Five other Hawke's Bay wines took top honours. They were Sacred Hill Riflemans chardonnay 2006, Sileni Estate Selection 'The Triangle' merlot 2005, Church Road Hawke's Bay merlot cabernet 2005, Vidal Reserve Hawke's Bay chardonnay 2006, Esk Valley Reserve syrah 2006.
Seven wines from Marlborough won trophies. They were: Jules Taylor Marlborough sauvignon blanc 2007; Hawkesbridge Marlborough methode traditionnelle 2003; Foxes Island Marlborough riesling 2007; Forrest Estate gewurtztraminer 2006; Lawson's Dry Hills gewurtztraminer 2007; Saint Clair Marlborough pinot gris 2007; Forrest Estate botrytised riesling 2006.
The other awards were taken by two Central Otago wines - Kim Crawford SP Rise & Shine Creek Pinot Noir 2006, and Rockburn Pinot Noir 2006 - and a Gisborne wine, Coopers Creek Gisborne Viognier 2007.
