Trinity Hill's 2007 Homage syrah has been honoured with the inaugural "Best of the Best" title by Cuisine magazine's leading wine judges.
"A great reward for all the blood, sweat and tears that go into aiming so high with Homage," was how Trinity Hill's head winemaker Warren Gibson greeted the news.
The2007 Homage (a style admired internationally and of which film-maker Steven Spielberg is an avowed fan) was initially named Best Red.
Up against the Best White, Spy Valley Gewurztraminer 2010, and Best Sparkling, the 1999 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, the Hawke's Bay wine took the ultimate award.
It came out on top, as best of the best, after 1550 wines were tasted in the past year by the magazine's judges. The judges' summary declared - "Trinity Hill Homage is a wine of great concentration and richness, but there is also a lovely impression of finesse and elegance to complete the story."
Trinity Hills chief executive and winemaker John Hancock was understandably delighted.
"It is great news," Mr Hancock said during a visit to China. "This is the first year Cuisine has offered the accolade and we are very proud to receive it. We only produce Homage syrah in vintages that meet our exacting standards."
Mr Hancock said 2007 had been an "excellent" year on the Gimblett Gravels and the 2007 Homage had proven "a winner right from the start". The 2009 harvest was also a quality one and, accordingly, the next Trinity Hill Homage would be that vintage - set for release in November. He also had "high hopes" for the 2011 vintage.
"The grapes are still on the vine and it is now down to the weather."
He expected harvesting for the syrah variety, after a "difficult season" to begin in about a fortnight.
The award adds to accolades for the Homage. The 2006 Homage syrah won the trophy for Champion Wine of the Show at the 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards, while the variety has also gathered medals and five-star accolades from wine writers in Australasia.
In the past 15 years, Trinity Hill has collected more than 1000 wine awards.
