Villa Maria Estate has secured two top prizes at last night?s Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, the country?s largest regional wine competition.
The Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2011 was the Champion Chardonnay, and the Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2010 won the award for Best in Class (Viognier). For the Viognier, this was the third year in a row that it took out the top spot in its category.
Villa Maria Senior Auckland Winemaker Nick Picone expressed his happiness today: ?Premium Chardonnay is enjoying a resurgence in popularity and it?s the white wine that many winemakers love to both make and drink; so this result is very rewarding as we place a huge emphasis on ?getting it right? with this variety. We see the Hawkes Bay as a key region for producing some of the country?s best Chardonnays, and we are thrilled that our Hawkes Bay Reserve has been judged as the region?s top example. It is testament to the selection of quality vineyard sites and the committed approach of our viticulture and winemaking teams that our Chardonnays consistently rise to the top?.
Last night?s awards were held at the Waikoko Gardens in Hastings, with around 400 guests attending. Maori TV?s Carol Hirschfeld acted as Master of Ceremonies.