Several trophies in the recent Bragato wine awards in Blenheim have gone to Central Otago winery Akarua, in Bannockburn.
The Bragato competition recognises the growers rather than the winemakers and Akarua's vineyard manager, Mark Naismith, won the Bragato Trophy for champion wine of show, the Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy champion pinot noir and the Sustainability Trophy for Akarua's 2011 Pinot Noir, and the Sparkling Trophy for Akarua Rose Brut NV.
2013 Bragato wine awards trophy winners
Champion wine of show and Bragato Trophy winner: Akarua Pinot Noir 2011, Akarua Central Otago, Mark Naismith.
Richard Smart Trophy and reserve champion wine: Villa Maria single vineyard Taylors Pass chardonnay 2011, Taylors Pass Vineyard, Marlborough, Ian Buck.
Friedrich Wohnsiedler Trophy and champion riesling: Wither Hills Cellar Release Kerseley Riesling 2012, Kerseley, Marlborough, Wendy and Owen Glover.
Brother Cyprian Trophy and champion pinot gris: Thornbury Waipara Pinot Gris 2013, Waiata Vineyard, Waipara, Royce McKean.
New Zealand Wine Cellars Spence Brothers Trophy and champion sauvignon blanc: Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 Foundation Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Swamp Road Vineyard, Marlborough, Phillip and Cheryl Sowman.
Bill Irwin Trophy and champion chardonnay: Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2011, Taylors Pass Vineyard, Marlborough, Ian Buck.
Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy and champion pinot noir: Akarua Pinot Noir 2011, Akarua, Central Otago, Mark Naismith.
Alan Limmer Trophy and champion syrah: Vidal Legacy Series Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2009, Omahu Gravels Vineyard, Hawkes Bay, Phil Holden.
Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy and champion classical red wine: Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010, Vidal Vineyard, Hawkes Bay, Phil Holden.
Champion sparkling: Akarua Rose Brut NV, Akarua, Central Otago, Mark Naismith.
Champion gewurztraminer: Zephyr Gewurztraminer 2012, Glover Family Vineyards, Marlborough, Owen Glover.
Champion other white wine: Coopers Creek 'Select Vineyards-Bell Ringer', Gisborne Albarino 2013, Bell Vineyard, Doug and Delwyn Bell.
Champion other red wine: Waimea Trev's Red 2012, Waimea Estates Nelson Ltd, Trevor and Ben Bolitho.
Champion rose: Clearview Black Reef Blush, Clearview Estate, Hawkes Bay, Tim Turvey and Helma Van Den Berg.
Champion dessert: Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Noble Riesling 2012, Roncenvin Estate Vineyard, Marlborough, Chris Fletcher.
Sustainability Trophy: Akarua Pinot Noir 2011, Akarua, Central Otago, Mark Naismith.
