Vineyard Manager Mark Naismith pictured with Huon Hooke at the Six Nations Wine Challenge Awards Ceremony
It has been a fantastic year for Central Otago winery Akarua, in particular for their Estate Akarua Pinot Noir. The 2014 vintage was awarded two trophies at the Six Nations Wine Challenge; the Pinot Noir Trophy and the overall Red Wine of Show Trophy. Announced at the awards ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday 5th October, Mark Naismith Akarua’s Vineyard Manager was in attendance to accept this great accolade.
The Six Nations Wine Challenge (representing the New World nations: Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and USA) is unique in its kind in which wines are submitted by invitation only and selected by six of the most influential voices in the world of wine including Huon Hooke and Bob Campbell MW.
New Zealand wine certainly stood out in this competitive ceremony, winning Nation of Show and a total of seven classes claimed.
This is not the first time Akarua has been presented with these awards, winning the same trophies for their 2010 vintage at the 2012 ceremony. Huon Hooke, judge for the 2016 competition commented on the extraordinary achievement for Akarua to have been bestowed these awards for the second time.
Demonstrating the consistent high quality of their flagship wine their latest vintage – Akarua Pinot Noir 2015 was awarded the Negociants Champion Pinot Noir Trophy for the third consecutive year at the New Zealand International Wine Show 2016.
