Johanneshof  Cellars   

Picton      Marlborough      New Zealand  
 

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

On Top of the World Scroll back to 2005 when one of the largest wine competitions in the world, the ‘Decanter World Wine Awards’ in London announced their ‘Top Wines of the World’.................... Having produced one of those top world wines is making local winemakers, Edel Everling and Warwick Foley, feel “on top of the world”. Their local winery, Johanneshof Cellars, scooped Gold with their Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2004 and also topped the New Zealand Aromatics Category receiving the Decanter ‘Regional New Zealand Aromatic White Wine Trophy’. While this result has made the Johanneshof Team very proud, Edel only reluctantly decided to travel to the Award Ceremony in London late last month. Little did she know that at the Gala Dinner she would not only be presented with a beautiful Crystal decanter for the Regional New Zealand Aromatic Trophy, but also get a second larger Decanter, awarding Johanneshof Cellars with the ‘International Aromatic White Wine Trophy’. Having won the top award in the Aromatic category and being one of 31 top wine producers in the world -- each best in their category -- is a reality that still needs to sink in for the Johanneshof Winemakers. “Being judged best Aromatic Wine of all entries in this prestigious international award is a wonderful complement and great recognition of the high quality we are aiming for,” says Edel. Having scored eight gold medals and seven trophies with their four aromatic varieties in New Zealand in the past Edel finds it, “an absolute thrill and very reassuring to be recognized internationally on the merit of quality against wines from all over the world."   The Continuing Story  Their success continues with the Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer 2005 gaining 5 Stars in NZ Cuisine Magazine's May 2006 Issue. In September 2006 the Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer 2006 won a Gold Medal at the Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Competition, in September 2006; and a Gold Medal at the New Zealand International Wine Competition.  The following year the Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer  2006  again gained 5 Stars in NZ Cuisine Magazine's May 2007 Issue, and was awarded 98/100 points in the Australian "Goumet Traveller Wine" Magazine Dec/Jan 07, as well as winning a Silver Medal in the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London, in September 2007. And now could it be the turn of the Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer 2007 which has just gained 5 Stars in Winestate Magazine - "Michael Cooper's Recent Releases"  May/June 2008 Issue                                                                          Some Past Successes In the Austral-Asian region Johanneshof’s 2003 Noble Late Harvest Riesling has been voted in the top five wines in its category in Winestate magazine , Australia and in the Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine Bob Campbell MW chose the Johanneshof Cellars 2002 Marlborough Riesling as one of the  “Top 100 New Releases in Australia and New Zealand “. Another accolade has been a “Gold Medal “and “Regional New Zealand Aromatic White Trophy “ in the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London in September 2005 and Johanneshof Cellars also took out the ‘International Aromatic White Wine Trophy” which puts it into the company of the worlds best wine producers. Pinot Gris The Pinot Gris made in a dry Alsace style gained the only 5 star rating in the ‘Cuisine’ Magazine’s first ever NZ Pinot Gris tasting in December 2000, continued to be placed in the top 3 ratings. The vintage 2001 won a Silver Medal in the London International Wine Challenge. The latest accolade being the Trophy for “Champion Pinot Gris of Show” in the 2004 Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Awards. Late Harvest Riesling In the same competition the 2003 Johanneshof Noble Late Harvest Riesling won the Trophy for “Champion Sweet Wine of Show”. Gewurztraminer The Johanneshof Cellars Gewurztraminer 2004 was voted “Best NZ Aromatic White wine” and “Top NZ Gewurztraminer” (for the second consecutive year)  by Cuisine Magazine, May 2005, issue 110. In the Air NZ Wine Awards (Nov. 04) the 2004 Johanneshof Gewürztraminer was awarded one of only two Gold Medals from 52 Gewürztraminer entries, also Gold Medal and Trophy winning “Champion Gewurztraminers of Show” at 2005 Royal New Zealand Easter Show, March 2005. At the 2005 Decanter World Wine Awards in London this wine received top honours with the only Gewurztraminer Gold and “Trophy for International Aromatic White over 10 pounds” as well as “Regional New Zealand Aromatic White over 10 Pounds Trophy”. The 2003 Johanneshof Cellars Gewurztraminer was awarded a Gold medal at ‘The 2003 Liquorland TOP 100 International Wine Award’ and received the Trophy for “Champion Aromatic Wine of the Show”. Sauvignon Blanc The 2004 Sauvignon was awarded Bronze at the Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Awards in Oct. 2004 as did the 2003 vintage in Oct. 2003. While the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc was voted third best Sauvignon in the Australian Small Winemakers Show, Queensland, Nov. 2003, vintage 2004  was winner of Bronze Medal at Royal Easter Show 2005.                                                       In 1995 and 1997 Johanneshof Cellars was named “Best Wine and Beverage Attraction and Activity” in the Air New Zealand Marlborough Tourism Awards. In 1996 Edel received the “Clear- Self Employed Woman of the Year Award”.