Highly respected publication Drinks International, which focuses exclusively on the global wine, beer and spirits market, has released its annual ''Most Admired Wine Brands'' poll.
More than 200 of the world's top masters of wine, sommeliers, educators and journalists judged wine brands from across the world against the following criteria:
• The wine should be of consistent or improving quality
• It should reflect its region or country of origin
• It should respond to the needs and tastes of its target audience
• It should be well marketed and packaged
• It should have strong appeal to a wide demographic
Up against some truly huge wine companies, Villa Maria has come in at No 4, while Cloudy Bay, Oyster Bay and Brancott Estate made the top 50.
This is not only a wonderful success story for Villa Maria, but also huge recognition for the New Zealand wine industry as a whole.
International Sauvignon Blanc DaySauvignon blanc drinkers will rejoice in the knowledge that Friday is the sixth annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day.
An online initiative that began in California is this year being led by New Zealand Winegrowers, with events planned around the world.
You don't have to leave home to take part: you can join the Twitter conversation by using #SauvBlanc or access other forms of social media.
New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan suggests that ''anyone can join the celebration by enjoying a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc on April 24 and telling the world how good it is''.
Raise a glass to the grape variety that put New Zealand wine on the map and accounts for 86% of our wine exports.
Price: $17.99 (regularlyless on promo)
Rating: Very good
Musk, passionfruit andtropical fruits, hints ofrock melon and bubblegum withaeration.
Some lemony citrus.
Medium weight.
A fresh, appealing style in the riper fruit spectrum.-
Zesty without being searingly acidic.
www.teawa.com/pages/left-field
Price: $25-$27
Rating: Very good
Chalk and cheese from the previous wine.
Smoke and gunflint with underlying passionfruit.
A core of sweet fruit on the palate.
Fat and rich in the mouth, with a creamy mouth feel balancing the crispy acidity.
Long finish.
Quite distinct from the typical Marlborough style.
Perhaps a little more a food style.
Price: $27.99 (often $23-$24on special)
Rating: Excellent
Plums with some savoury notes. Lovely ripe fruit with a seasoning of mint.
Lots of complexity and great fruit intensity with a whisper of oak.
Powerful and long finish with good tannic grip.
Lovely fragrant lift on the finish.
Very tasty.
