Bay winery nets three golds in New York

TRIPLE GOLD: Monowai owner and winemaker Emma Lowe and her son Lucas Nunez-Lowe, 6, are thrilled to have won three gold medals at the New York International Wine Competition 2017. Photo/Paul Taylor

Crownthorpe winery Monowai Estate has won three gold medals and been named Hawke's Bay Winery of the Year for the second time at the New York International Wine Competition.

After picking up one gold medal and two bronzes at last year's competition, Monowai Estate owner and winemaker Emma Lowe said this year's results reflected a change in attitudes towards New Zealand wines in America.

"I've just been over there and that's certainly a trend that's taken off over there so where New Zealand wines appear to be more and more popular."

Monowai Estate were awarded gold medals for their 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, 2015 Pinot Gris and 2013 Pinot Noir at the awards, which were held in the heart of New York City.

The competition is marketed as the only trade awards with a blind judging panel and this year showcased 1300 wine submissions from over 23 countries.

Ms Lowe said she was thrilled with the standard of international recognition as they launched their new premium range, 'Upper Reaches'.

"We're particularly pleased with our Pinot Noir wine, which has developed nicely since bottling and is reflecting our high-altitude characteristics where the flavours become more fully developed, allowing a more complex wine than other lower altitude growing areas."

A series of cool climate wines, grown on the bank of the Ngaruroro River, the new range delivered pure full-bodied wines, she said.

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir were all grown on the higher altitude, free-draining soils that created ideal conditions for aromatics.

Having just returned from a research trip to the States, Ms Lowe said the market feedback for Monowai wines had been overwhelmingly positive and she hoped the awards would continue the good work.

"The awards are great leverage and it's great to be about to go out to retailers and say we come to you with these accolades and they're more positive about trying the wines."

"We're really looking forward to the beginning of the new season. It won't be long now and we'll be looking after the vines through the last of the frosts as the new season shoots burst through."