Pretty chuffed, was how Omahu Vineyard manager Phil Holden summed up a successful weekend for Hawke's Bay at the 2010 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards staged in Blenheim.
"It was interesting to be there in Marlborough and walking away with three trophies," Mr Holden, who manages four vineyards on the Gimblett Gravels, said today.
Omahu Vineyard took out one of the two top awards on the night - the Richard Smart trophy and reserve champion wine for its Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007.
It also took out the Alan Limmer trophy for champion syrah, as well as the sustainability trophy.
Mr Holden described syrah as a great variety with which to pick up success. "We grow fine red grapes on the gravels - it bears very good wine."
There was success also for four other Hawke's Bay vineyards in what was a night for celebration as seven of the 15 national awards came the Bay's way.
Ngatarawa took the award for champion dessert wine with its Glazebrook Noble Harvest Riesling 2009; Keltern Vineyard took the Bill Irwin trophy and champion chardonnay with its Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2008; Corner 50 Vineyard picked up the Tom McDonald memorial trophy and champion classical red wine with the Kim Crawford Small Parcels Corner 50 Vineyard Hawke's Bay Merlot, and Trust Vineyard went away with the champion cabernet sauvignon with its Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.
"Yes, it was a very good night,' Mr Holden said.
It was another North Island wine which took the other major award - champion wine of show.
The Cobblestone Te Muna Pinot Noir 2009, grown by Saul Levene at Cobblestone Vineyard in Martinborough, took the trophy.
Awards aplenty for Bay wines
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