Chardonnay shines at Gisborne show

A week or two back I was lucky enough to be invited to judge at the inaugural Gisborne Regional Wine Awards with winemakers Larry McKenna (Escarpment Vineyards) Simon Nunns (Coopers Creek), Simon Waghorn (Astrolabe), Ant McKenzie (Te Awa and Kidnapper Cliffs) and Australian wine writer Ralph Kyte-Powell. Chaired by Jane Skilton MW, the competition was a fantastic event, which opened my eyes to the wines Gisborne winemakers are capable of.
Chardonnay still reigned with Villa Maria winning the Supreme Wine of the Show Trophy for the 2009 Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Chardonnay, with the 2010 vintage also winning a gold medal.
Villa Maria founder and managing director, Sir George Fistonich, said of the awards: "Fourteen years ago we found some of our prime vineyard sites in Gisborne, after searching for days by helicopter to find the perfect and unique topography that would make these outstanding wines.
"Year after year this wine is consistently good, so we're ecstatic to have it recognised as the best chardonnay in the region."