Wanaka wines recieve rave reviews

Rippon Vineyard and Winery (Wanaka) and Felton Road (Bannockburn) are two of five New Zealand winemakers given a gold-star rating recently by the internationally acclaimed Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide.

The first six issues of the guide, by possibly the world's best known (and some might say most controversial) wine critic declined to comment on New Zealand wine.

But with the release of the seventh edition, the silence has been broken.

The Parker's team of writers does not grade wineries on individual wines.

Rather, it grades them on their overall ability to deliver consistent excellence, bucking vintage ups and downs, delivering regardless of circumstance.

Only a very small number of wineries around the world achieve Mr Parker's highest rating of five stars (outstanding), according to a media release issued by Evenz Ltd on behalf of the five winemakers yesterday.

The New Zealand wineries to achieve the honour were: Ata Rangi, Felton Road, Pegasus Bay, Rippon Vineyard and Winery and Te Mata Estate.

A further 21 wineries achieved the four-star (excellent) category.

Parker's New Zealand correspondent, Neil Martin, is due to return to New Zealand for further appraisals in January.