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Bell Gully backs new Champion Sustainable Wine award
Judging is underway to decide the trophy winners in the 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Among the prizes this year will be the inaugural Bell Gully Champion Sustainable Wine trophy, reflecting the New Zealand wine industry's commitment to sustainability.
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards are the country's premier wine competition, organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country's 1,300 grape growers and winemakers.
More than 1,550 New Zealand wines have been entered for this year's awards from across the country's 10 winegrowing regions. There have been a strong number of entries from new varietals such as Pinot Gris, Syrah and Viognier. Pinot Noir is closely chasing the highest number of entries only slightly behind this year's leaders, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Marlborough has once again topped the entries followed by Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Nelson. Entries from Otago have rapidly increased over the past three years.
The wines are being judged over three days this week at North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City.
The trophies, including the new Champion Sustainable Wine Trophy, will be announced at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards dinner, in Christchurch on Saturday 24 November.
Bell Gully has been providing legal advice to New Zealand's wine industry for 30 years and has been a sponsor of the Air New Zealand Wine Awards for more than a decade.
Senior partner David McGregor, counsel to NZ Winegrowers, says the firm is particularly pleased to sponsor the new Champion Sustainable Wine award given its work this year with the wine industry and other partners to develop a framework for the industry's sustainable growth.
For more information about the awards visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz
