A Martinborough pinot noir has eclipsed the competition at one of the top wine contests in the US.
Alana Estate captured three gold medals and a bronze at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine Competition and director Mike Cornish said yesterday the successful medal haul is ''fantastic'' for the vineyard and
the district.
The 2008 pinot noir from the boutique vineyard was judged best overall pinot noir in the varietals section and best of class, its 2009 sauvignon blanc won best of class as well and its 2008 chardonnay won bronze.
Mr Cornish said there were about 900 cases left of the star pinot noir, which will soon be winging its way to a US partner ''who snapped it all up'' for an American market paying US$40 a bottle.
The glory of the gold medal pinot noir was recognised early, Mr Cornish said, with positive reviews and feedback preceding its success at the LA competition, which carries substantial weight in the American and world markets.
''We always knew the '08 pinot was something special and it's wonderful that 75 judges at such a prestigious show agreed, and gave us the sort of recognition that every little winery seeks.''
Ian and Alana Smart, who founded the winery in 1993, are now in LA for interviews arranged in the wake of their stateside triumph.
The Alana Estate harvest this year was up from 11,000 to 14,700 cases, Mr Cornish said, and the latest vintage was due for release in about three months.
The UK took about 20 per cent of the Alana Estate production and the US about 10 per cent, he said. About 50 per cent of each vintage was sold domestically.
The gold medal-winning pinot noir is being sold at Alana Estate for $60 a bottle.
