This week Grasshopper Rock received yet another gold for its Pinot noir bringing the total to 18 golds. The last time I wrote about medal tallies was in 2010 when I wrote a blog titled: “Grasshopper Rock’s thoughts on wine competitions”.
I said “Our mission has been to consistentlyproduce quality Pinot Noir. This has driven our site selection, vineyardmanagement and winemaking. Wine competitions have been the best public measurethat consistent quality is being achieved. The Gold Medals awarded toGrasshopper Rock in its first four vintages gives us great confidence in thisvineyard’s potential to produce some of the finest Pinot Noir”.
And I quoted an article by Jancis Robinson MW, one of the world’s most influential wine writers. “All the competitions can becriticised for being too generous with its bronze medals and commendations butI know from personal experience is that it truly is an achievement for any wineto satisfy an entire panel of judges that it deserves a gold”. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/winenews060...
Four more vintages on and the gold medalskeep coming. It is this consistency Michael Cooper required when he elevatedGrasshopper Rock to his list of Potential Classic NZ Wines. http://www.michaelcooper.co.nz/wine-info/classic-w...
It is a remarkable story when one wine canbe awarded multiple golds six vintages in a row and in its fifth vintage be judged The Champion Wine and Champion Pinot Noir at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Ultimately quality speaks. For the record here are the 18 goldmedals listed by vintage:
BLUE-GOLD andTOP1OO - Sydney International WineCompetition 2014
GOLD -Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2014
BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 wine -Sydney International Wine Competition 2013
GOLD - Bragato Wine Awards 2012
GOLD - NZ International Wine Show 2012
GOLD - Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2012
GOLD - HongKong International Wine and Spirits Competition 2010
BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 -Sydney International Wine Competition 2011
GOLD – International Wine Challenge
BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 wine -Sydney International Wine Competition
GOLD - Bragato Wine Awards
GOLD – Liquorland Top100 (Now Spiegelau IWC)
I said “Our mission has been to consistentlyproduce quality Pinot Noir. This has driven our site selection, vineyardmanagement and winemaking. Wine competitions have been the best public measurethat consistent quality is being achieved. The Gold Medals awarded toGrasshopper Rock in its first four vintages gives us great confidence in thisvineyard’s potential to produce some of the finest Pinot Noir”.
And I quoted an article by Jancis Robinson MW, one of the world’s most influential wine writers. “All the competitions can becriticised for being too generous with its bronze medals and commendations butI know from personal experience is that it truly is an achievement for any wineto satisfy an entire panel of judges that it deserves a gold”. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/winenews060...
Four more vintages on and the gold medalskeep coming. It is this consistency Michael Cooper required when he elevatedGrasshopper Rock to his list of Potential Classic NZ Wines. http://www.michaelcooper.co.nz/wine-info/classic-w...
It is a remarkable story when one wine canbe awarded multiple golds six vintages in a row and in its fifth vintage be judged The Champion Wine and Champion Pinot Noir at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Ultimately quality speaks. For the record here are the 18 goldmedals listed by vintage:
2012 vintage
ELITE GOLD - Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2013BLUE-GOLD andTOP1OO - Sydney International WineCompetition 2014
GOLD -Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2014
2011
GOLD –International Wine Challenge 2013BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 wine -Sydney International Wine Competition 2013
2010
ELITE GOLD – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2012GOLD - Bragato Wine Awards 2012
GOLD - NZ International Wine Show 2012
GOLD - Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2012
2009
GOLD - BragatoWine Awards 2011GOLD - HongKong International Wine and Spirits Competition 2010
BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 -Sydney International Wine Competition 2011
2008
GOLD – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2010GOLD – International Wine Challenge
BLUE-GOLD and TOP100 wine -Sydney International Wine Competition
2007
GOLD - HongKong International Wine and Spirits Competition GOLD - Bragato Wine Awards
GOLD – Liquorland Top100 (Now Spiegelau IWC)