Seventeen Royal Easter Show trophies were awarded at the
weekend, with three, including the champion wine of the show
trophy and the winemaker of the year, going to Central Otago.
Central Otago winemaker Rudi Bauer missed out on a German
"wine Oscar" at the weekend but was named New Zealand
Winemaker of the Year at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland
instead.
The irrepressible John Buck of Te Mata Estate in Hawkes Bay
was in town last Thursday for his annual presentation of the
estate's new-release wines, which was attended by about 80
wine aficionados.
More than a decade ago Central Otago was celebrating its
first medal-winning wines as the fledgling wine region
started on its path to international recognition.
In 1804, missionary Samuel Marsden established a vineyard at
St Mary's, west Sydney. Further north, in the Hunter Valley,
George Wyndham was also experimenting with grapes. GILLIAN
VINE takes a look at that historic vineyard.
