Bay grapes outclass rest in best vineyard awards

Hawke's Bay vineyards have again emerged as the top spots in New Zealand for growing red wine varieties after picking up four of the 15 prestigious Romeo Bragato Awards for 2012.

Four awards came to the Bay, beating off Auckland (3), Marlborough (3) and Central Otago (2). The Waipara, Oamaru and Gisborne regions all took one award.

The Romeo Bragato Awards are held annually and are awarded to growers for viticultural excellence - with the competition recognising that growing excellent grapes is the foundation of creating wines of true quality.

Trophies are awarded to the top wines from each varietal class judged. The reds effectively belonged to the Bay.

The Trust Vineyard and Mere Road on the Gimblett Gravels, which supply grapes for Tauranga-based Mills Reef Winery, took the Alan Limmer Trophy and Champion Syrah, and the Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy and Champions Classical Red Wine respectively.

Champion Other Red Wine went to Omahu Gravels for the Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2009, while Champion Merlot, in the form of Villa Maria Reserve Hawke's Bay Merlot 2009, was also sourced from Omahu Gravels.

Villa Maria picked up a total of five awards, including the Champion Wine of Show and Bragato Trophy Winner for its Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011 grown at the Ihumatao Vineyard in Auckland.