Hunter Valley Chardonnay: “Back in a Big Way”
Neil McGuigan says the style is finally getting the recognition it deserves
Following incredible success at the Cairns Wine Show, Hunter Valley wineries Tempus Two and McGuigan Wines have seen their Chardonnays shine once again at the 2016 Cowra Wine Show – winning three Gold and three Trophies for their Hunter Valley Chardonnays alone.
The 2014 McGuigan Personal Reserve Hunter Ridge Chardonnay was the big winner of the evening, taking out three trophies including Best Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Best Single Vineyard White Table Wine and Viticulturist for Best Single Vineyard Table White Wine.
Wine show favourite, the 2015 Tempus Two Pewter ‘Poppy’s Block’ Hunter Valley Chardonnay received a Gold medal, after it was also recently awarded Champion White Wine of Show and Champion Wine of Show at the 2016 Cairns Wine Show.
Overall, both wineries enjoyed enormous success, with McGuigan wines winning three Trophies, five Gold, five Silver and nine Bronze and Tempus Two receiving two Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals. The award success culminated in parent company Australian Vintage’s award recognition for the Show’s ‘Most Successful Exhibitor’ for the fourth time in six years.
Chief Winemaker for McGuigan Wines and Australian Vintage CEO, Neil McGuigan, said the wins symbolise the rightful return of pristine Hunter Valley Chardonnay to the world stage.
“For years, Chardonnays with match-stick, reductive characters have been in vogue and clouded the plate when it came to showing what the region could truly do. These two Chardonnays are complex but with beautifully clean fruit, which is what is driving these awards. It’s about time they got the recognition they deserve!”
Tempus Two Winemaker, Andrew Duff, said; “When I started with Tempus Two four years ago I set out to improve and build on our portfolio of Hunter Valley Chardonnay, and the Pewter and Poppy’s Block Chardonnays are a testament to this goal.”
“If you get things right in the vineyard, pick the fruit in a timely manner and have the willingness to experiment with the likes of high solid ferments, oak regimes and the odd controlled wild ferment, Hunter Valley Chardonnay can move into a completely unique territory and I look forward to seeing how this varietal continues to impress over the years to come.”
The 2014 McGuigan Personal Reserve Hunter Ridge Chardonnay is available at the McGuigan Cellar Door for $50, and the 2015 Tempus Two Pewter ‘Poppy’s Block’ Hunter Valley Chardonnay will be available in September 2016 for $50.
For further information or imagery, please contact:
Karina Lamb
Communications Manager, Australian Vintage Limited
(02) 8345 6348
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