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Cathay Pacific Wine & Spirit Competition trophy winners announced

Australia and New Zealand put in strong showings at the original ‘authentically’ Asian wine and spirits competition

HKIWSC Director Debra Meiburg MW

The trophy-winning wines from the 2012 Cathay Pacific Wine & Spirit Competition were announced today. Australian wines swept all before them with nine wins in total, one ahead of neighbours New Zealand while Japanese wine producer Château Mercian won four trophies.

The Japanese producer scooped four awards, three for Japanese food pairing and one for Best Wine from Japan.

Australian producer Wolf Blass won best-in-category as well for its Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2007 (Best Australian Shiraz and Best Shiraz/Syrah categories). Accolade Wines won Best NW Chardonnay and the overall Best Chardonnay trophies for its Hardy’s Heritage Reserve Bin Chardonnay 2010.

This year’s competition also saw the introduction of the Best Semillion trophy, duly picked up by Australian Vintage Ltd for their McGuigan Vineyard Select Semillion 2005.

New Zealand wineries collected eight trophy wins, including Sileni Estates winning Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Best Sauvingnon Blanc for its Greyrock Marlborough Sauvingnon Blanc 2012.

On the spirits side, South Africa was a surprise winner with the Oude Molen Distillery PTY winning Best Grape Brandy with its Oude Molen VOV, while German producer Redeburger Destillation & Liqueurfabrik won the Best Liqueur trophy for its Original Radeburger Bitter.

This year’s tastings, which took place 4-8 October and saw judges from across Asia taste 1800 wines and spirits from around the world, were attended by guest VIP judges Karen MacNeil and Dr Bill Lumsden.

“A medal win in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition helps wineries and distilleries set themselves apart in this exciting, competitive market,” said HKIWSC Director Debra Meiburg MW.

“Because the judging is based on Asian taste preferences, winners are recognised for their appeal to the Asian market.”

A full list of trophy winners can be found at www.hkiwsc.com. Medal winners will be announced at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, held 8-10 November.

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