Bravo! to Kerikeri's golden limoncello

Paolo, left, and Andrea Loggia with their award-winning Italian liqueur, Sovrano limoncello.

There's a little taste of Sicily in the Bay of Islands and it's just been recognised with four major international awards.

Sovrano Limoncello, which makes Italian liqueur from tiny Skudder's Beach near Kerikeri, has won gold for its cream limoncello at the Sip Awards 2015.

The original limoncello won silver - and was the only limoncello to be awarded in the competition, while Sovrano Limoncello and Limoncello Cream were also awarded the prestigious Consumer Choice Award in the same competition.

Andrea and Marzia Loggia, owners of the company, said Kerikeri's lemons, and the zest limoncello was traditionally made from, were ideal for making superior limoncello.

It was the Kerikeri lemons and the family recipe that contributed to their competition success rate, they said.

"Having tasted hundreds of limoncello, we knew the importance of using fresh and perfect ingredients and that's what Kerikeri lemons provide. The secret of limoncello must be in the pungent after-taste," said Andrea.

The duo were originally from northern Italy, with Andrea's family from Sicily and Marzia's family from the northern city of Mantova.

They emigrated from Milan to Northland in 2007 with their two sons, Paolo and Stefano.

Today Sovrano Limoncello is sold around New Zealand and exported to Australia, the United States and China.

Future plans include expanding their orchards and the limoncello facility and production capability.

"As we reach more foreign markets we will employ two or three more staff members to help us keep productive," Andrea said.

"We need to keep the quality standards at the highest level."

In 2010 the company won its first gold from the Testing Institute in Chicago, scoring 95 points out of a possible 100 for their 95 limoncello and the 94 cream limoncello.

Since then they have chalked up 17 awards from overseas, even beating home-based Italians.