Enter Name:   
Enter Email:
Subscribe here to receive occasional updates from Lowburn Ferry.
Lowburn Ferry Vineyard

PRESS RELEASE: 8 NOVEMBER 2006 – LOWBURN FERRY INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

Lowburn Ferry Vineyard in Central Otago has made international success with its 2005 Pinot Noir winning a gold medal at a prestigious wine show in Austria.

The results of the AWC Vienna 2006 International Wine Challenge were announced last week. The AWC Vienna 2006 is the second largest international wine competition with 5118 wines entered out of 29 nations over five continents, and together with London, Bordeaux, Verona and Brussels represents one of the world's most important wine trophies.

The success for Lowburn Ferry's second vintage from its "home block" vineyard follows recent accolades for the Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003, the only other release from the "home block," which won Champion Wine of the Show, Champion Red Wine and Champion Pinot Noir at the New Zealand Winegrowers Bragato Wine Awards in 2005.

Unfortunately, like the 2003 vintage, the Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2005 is very limited in supply, due to demand from the export trade and wine "connoisseurs" in New Zealand. But it is significant in helping us build our brand for when significant volumes come on stream," said owners Jean and Roger Gibson. Some of the wine has been exported to the UK and USA, and the wine is being released in New Zealand this week.

For more information, or orders, visit www.lowburnferry.co.nz

Or contact:
Jean or Roger Gibson
5 Swann Road
RD2
Cromwell
Central Otago
Ph (03) 445 0846
Email: wine@lowburnferry.co.nz


PRESS RELEASE: 30 AUGUST 2005 – TRIPLE SCOOP IN WINE AWARDS FOR LOWBURN FERRY

The Bragato Wine Awards 2005 were held in conjunction with the annual grape and wine industry Romeo Bragato Conference in Gisborne. These awards are unique in New Zealand in that they recognise the grapegrowers, the vineyard and excellence in viticultural practice. Viticulturalist Roger Gibson also picked up the coveted Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir Table Wine, and the trophy for Champion Red Table Wine.

Lowburn Ferry Vineyard in Central Otago scooped three of the top trophies, including CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW at the Bragato Wine Awards held in Gisborne on Saturday night. The winning wine was Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003, made from the first vintage harvested on the 3ha vineyard in the Lowburn Valley, 5km north of Cromwell in Central Otago.

The Bragato Wine Awards 2005 were held in conjunction with the annual grape and wine industry Romeo Bragato Conference in Gisborne. These awards are unique in New Zealand in that they recognise the grapegrowers, the vineyard and excellence in viticultural practice. Viticulturalist Roger Gibson also picked up the coveted Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir Table Wine, and the trophy for Champion Red Table Wine.

“Mike Wolter had identified Lowburn as one of the sub-regions where he could see some great pinot noir was going to be grown, and it's good to be bringing the Mike Wolter Trophy to Lowburn for the first time,” Roger said. Mike Wolter was a pioneering winemaker in the region.

“It's a thrill to have achieved such a milestone with our first vintage, but it is also great to receive confirmation that the soils and climate of Lowburn Ferry Vineyard are so well suited to growing premium pinot noir.”

Lowburn Ferry is the area surrounding an historic ferry crossing over the mighty Clutha River in Central Otago. The formation of Lake Dunstan about 10 years ago destroyed the last evidence of the ferry crossing, but the punt and distinctive “Sugarloaf” terraces are embraced in the winery's branding. The vineyard was established in 2000, nestled on a sheltered north facing terrace in the Lowburn Valley beneath the Pisa Range. It is managed by Roger and Jean Gibson.

The Bragato awards success for Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2003 follows a run of serious reviews from notable wine writers including a rating of 18 out of 20 by UK wine critic Jancis Robinson, and five star honours in Cuisine magazine.

The trophies return to Central Otago after having been won last year by Robin Dicey, viticulturalist for Mt Difficulty in a similar triple scoop. 640 wines were entered in this year's competition – and three Central Otago wines won gold medals.

Roger said Lowburn Ferry Wines would be extremely limited for at least the next two to three years. Anyone wishing to pre-order the 2004 wine or join a mailing list to be notified of new releases can log on to lowburnferry.co.nz or email wine@lowburnferry.co.nz

ENDS

Contact for further information:

Roger or Jean Gibson
Lowburn Ferry
5 Swann Road
RD2
Cromwell
Ph 03 445 0846

Lowburn Ferry Vineyard, Strathburn Farm, 5 Swann Road, RD2, Cromwell
Phone: +64 (3) 445 0846, Fax +64 (3) 445 0840, Email:wine@lowburnferry.co.nz