The Waitoa Free Range Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Trophy at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards was won by Vidal Estate, taking out the category this year with its Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2012.
Vidal Estate’s Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 was the winner of the top prize for 2014, winning the prestigious Air New Zealand Champion Wine of Show Trophy.
“Waitoa is committed to delivering growth through product innovation and quality supply that meets the market need and it’s great to see the winner of Waitoa’s Trophy sharing many of our core values,” says Waitoa International sales director, Jonathan Gray.
Vidal Estate Winemaker Hugh Crichton says the partnership between food and wine is crucial to Vidal’s wine making process.
“Food and wine matching is really important to us – we were the first winery in New Zealand to open a restaurant. The way that wine complements food and vice versa is critical to every step of the wine making process,” says Crighton.
“Food and wine matching is fundamental to our wine style as well – we favour wines that are acidic, balanced, and not too heavy in alcohol or oak, which tend to go better with food.
“At Vidal Estate we value quality, right from the people through to the product and the way we do things. To make a great wine you need great weather and great soils, and you need great people making the right decisions.”
