Last week Marisco Vineyards (The Ned and the King’s Series) was crowned NZ Winery of the Year. The award, presented by the International Wine & Spirits Challenge, is considered one of the most prestigious international accolades and follows a dream run of eight international gold medal wins for Marisco Vineyards over the past two months.

“The competition for this level of award is enormous,” said Marisco Vineyards Proprietor and Chief Winemaker Brent Marris after receiving the award. “We were judged against some of the best New Zealand wineries and it’s both thrilling and humbling to take the top spot.”

The International Wine & Spirits Challenge (UK) is considered one of the top three global wine competitions, alongside the Decanter wine awards (UK) and the Sydney International Wine Competition. More than 7,000 wines were entered this year, including 340 from 74 New Zealand wineries.

“I think what sets us apart is that we’re eternal optimists. We’re 110% focused on what’s possible, even when other people tell us it’s impossible. That’s seen us turn an old cattle farm into a high quality vineyard, develop entirely new technologies to incorporate into our high-tech winery, and tackle big international markets and find success there.

“I guess it’s a winning mix of no.8 wire mentality, and bold entrepreneurism, that exists in every person in our company,” he says. “Winning this title, with the highest international credentials, will really support our growth plans for 2012,” Marris says. “We’re on a very exciting journey and are immensely proud to be flying the New Zealand flag on the world stage.” Keep up the good work, guys!

Click here to view the range from Brent, including the new vintage Fairhall Cliffs, all currently buy 5 get one free.

Marisco Vineyard’s The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2010 has scooped a trio of gold medals at three leading international wine shows this month, on the back of picking up gold at the Sydney Top 100 in November 2010. The multi award-winning wine won gold medals at the prestigious Mundus Vini competition in Germany, International Wine & Spirits Challenge in the UK, and Austrian Wine Challenge.

Marisco Vineyards Owner and Chief Winemaker Brent Marris says the entire team are overwhelmed by the extraordinary reception the wine has enjoyed, and The King’s Favour now being Marisco Vineyards’ most awarded wine.

“We always knew The King’s Favour had enormous potential. At harvest we saw the most extraordinary fruit expression in the berries—they were electric, vibrant and powerful—and this has translated beautifully into the bottle,” says Marris.

The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2010 was the first vintage to be made in Marisco Vineyard’s brand new, state-of-the-art winery. It has an exceptional backbone and structure, off which fleshy ripe tropical fruit flavours deliver a sensory explosion. The wine demonstrates deep flavour intensity and variety, which can be attributed to individual blocks by the winemaking team.

“In 2010 we harvested our Sauvignon Blanc block-by-block at maximum flavour intensity over three and a half weeks, which in turn gave us enormous range in the juice once we were in the winery.

“The diversity in the terroir is what makes our Waihopai Valley property a winemaker’s dream, and we’re thrilled to be using it to deliver beautiful wines for the people all over the world to enjoy,” he says.

New Zealand wine, including the King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc, has 20% off up to and including Monday 31st October.

This is not just one story, but a series of four short stories to tell, along with some awesome photography. After testing the water using the King’s Bastard, which we have had in stock since December past, we’re delighted to introduce the rest of Marisco Vineyards’ King’s Series range to Ireland.

Amongst the twisted vines of Brent Marris’ (winemaker) ancestry were the families of de Marisco, who in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries inhabited the island of Lundy off the south-west coast of England. These wines honour some of their many stories…

The King’s Bastard Chardonnay 2009

The de Mariscos descended from a William de Marisco (approximately AD 1100), who was said to be one of the 35 illegitimate children of Kind Henry the First – thereby marking him the King’s Bastard.

The de Mariscos continued a rocky relationship with the monarchy in subsequent generations, ultimately ending with the tragic execution of a later William for piracy and his alleged involvement in a treasonous plot.

The King’s Thorn Pinot Gris 2010

In 1155, regardless of the de Mariscos’ possession of Lundy, King Henry the Second, for political reasons, gifted the popular Order of the Knights Templar.

However, the de Mariscos refused to relinquish it and were fined for not doing so. They remained a constant thorn in the King’s side, retaining possession of the island for nearly 90 years.

It was finally forfeited to the crown in 1242 following the execution of one William de Marisco for piracy and his alleged involvment in a treasonous plot against King Henry the Third.

The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2010

In 1204, despite apparently using Lundy Island as a base for piracy against North Devon traders and along the English coast, one William de Marisco was strangely appointed to be in charge of a number of the Royal Galleys – whose very purpose was to defend against such piracy.

William was also granted the Manor of Braunton (in Devon) by King John. Both these factors were surprising evidence of the King’s Favour.

The King’s Wrath Pinot Noir 2009

In 1242 and already under a royal ‘cloud’ for piracy off the coast of England – one William de Marisco was implicated in an assassination attempt on King Henry the Third. Found guilty of high treason, William and 16 of his associates were sentanced to death.

It is said that the King was so displeased with William, he even requested a special punishment be devised – that of ‘quartering’. Following his execution, the four parts of William’s body were sent to the four corners of the Kingdom – as an example of what would happen to those incurring the full vehemence of the King’s Wrath.

Great stories and sexy labels are one thing, but we know it is what’s on the inside that really counts. The King’s Series represents that extra quality edge Marlborough can bring that some of us occasionally forget about when we’ve been drinking too much of the volume-driven wines from this pioneering region. The King’s are pretty full-on and expressive, they don’t hold back, but isn’t that what Marlborough does best?

Go forth and enjoy the history, the heritage, the stories, and most importantly, the wine. We sure will.

Full range of the King’s Series here.

Wine tourism has become a big business that the New World in particular is taking real advantage of. You go to Australia’s Hunter Valley (pictured – that’s me), California’s Napa Valley or Marlborough in New Zealand and each winery will welcome you with open arms. You can’t help leaving with bags of love for their product, passion and way of life.

Wine tourism is viewed quite differently in the Old World. I had a great trip to Loire Valley in 2009 but the philosophy there is different. In my visits to Australia, New Zealand and California, producers were very keen to get you to the cellar door, to tell their story and let you sample some wines. That turned out to be less so in France.

The New World approach is obviously paying dividends to the respective regions. They seem to fly the flag together, not only putting a spin on their own wines, but educating people on what their country or region as a whole has to offer. Every single person who passes through their cellar door represents another opportunity to spread the word and I’m convinced it has played a big role in making the wines of these countries so successful in foreign markets in the last twenty years or so.

I came back from New Zealand telling my friends and family all about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and actively trying to find those wines at home so I could try them again. I had become a walking, talking advertisement for New Zealand wines without even knowing it because I’d had such an amazing experience, I was happy to have the region and its superb product sold to me.

From recent evidence, Spain is making big efforts to bring more visitors to her wine regions. Junta de Castilla y León, in partnership with Wines from Spain, is promoting its eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites alongside gastronomy and wine. Ribera del Duero has an excellent looking wine route with an abundance of wineries, restaurants, bars, accommodation and leisure facilities. The French Way of the Pilgrims’ Route to Santiago, a 400km hike over breathtaking landscape, has caught my eye – maybe next year though. High speed trains take you to Castilla y León from Madrid. Inexpensive flights are available from Dublin to Madrid.

While on the topic of wine tourism, Mendoza is becoming one of the top choices for gay tourists according to a recent article published on winesur.com. Wine, wineries and landscape are deemed to be the most important attractions.

It all started in 1985 when New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc took the world by storm in the guise of Cloudy Bay. Twenty-five years on, the Kiwi wine industry seems to be having some of the same problems that Australia has been struggling with recently, as has been widely reported with the issue of over-supply. Too many money hungry businessmen looking a piece of the pie, perhaps?

Marlborough has been at the epicentre of New Zealand’s claim to fame on the wine scene. I know myself from being in the business, customers reach for the Marlborough Sauvignon first and then ask about Nelson and Hawkes Bay. Marlborough to most represents quality and value through and through. The problem is some of the big conglomerates have been sending over wines that are over-cropped, characterless and out-right boring. Wines that have been manufactured on a massive scale and just won’t shift because there’s simply too much of it.

This of course doesn’t apply to those who are very much acting out New Zealand’s good name for being a high quality producer of outstanding value wine. I visited Marlborough myself in 2008 and there are still plenty of excellent small boutique wineries, and in fairness some of the larger wineries churning out good value product. The sort that an industry was built on and are now the foundation of. But in my opinion, some have over-stepped the mark. After all, it’s a tough job sending out hundreds of thousands of cases to retailers across the world whilst trying to keep the juice inside the bottle to the high standard expected.

Of the 2008 and 2009 vintages, tanker loads were sold off to the UK and Australia, some of which was quite good, but most of which was distinctly average. So is this cheap plonk threatening to tarnish the image of New Zealand’s wine industry? A country known for its true character and expressive individuality. There’s certainly at least one Kiwi wine that I can think of that’s widely available in Ireland and is just not performing well. Like a number of others, it has fallen victim to the law of mass-volume, and it’s not even representing good value as a volume wine, even if on offer at a supposedly discounted rate.

Fear not though, as all is far from lost in New Zealand. Seek and you will find some real steals from Marlborough and now the incredible up and coming regions of Nelson, Waipara and Central Otago to name a few. I sleep easy at night knowing that the wine market always has its own way of sussing out the good from the bad and it is ultimately the palate of the wine drinking consumer that will sort out the brilliant from the  generic.

The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2009 has recently been awarded Blue Gold and ranked in the Top 100 at this year’s Sydney International Wine Show, which is one of the few shows in the world to judge wines based on their ‘food-friendly’ characteristics. Blue-Gold Medals are awarded to the highest scoring Gold Medal wines selected from the 2000 wines submitted for judging.

“It’s another plaudit for our Sauvignon Blanc which, thanks to this year’s exceptional vintage, we’ve described as bright vibrant, energy in the bottle. It’s that good!” said The Ned proprietor, Brent Marris. This single vineyard wine has subtle fruit sweetness against acidity, giving a soft yet dry finish.

It’s just the fourth vintage for The Ned, the label established by Brent in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley. “Our Sauvignon Blanc is instantly recognisable for its pure Marlborough flavours and it’s a perfect match with seafood so we’re very pleased with this recognition from the main Australian wine event that guides consumer choice,” he said.

Here’s what the judges had to say about The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2009:

Warren Gibson
Vibrant and lifted. It seems very youthful with fermentation esters apparent. Some greener notes on the palate. Good vibrant acidity. Excellent match with the goat cheese flavours and a beautifully lingering food match.

Liam McElhinney
Lime and currant aromas. Quite dominant on the nose. Very complex aromas with hints of minerality showing through. The palate was quite focused. Very mineral driven flavours. Quite good persistence. The acidity of the wine was well matched with the cheese, however the herbal marriage of the cheese and the wine was missing.

Steve Flamstead
Fresh lychees. Some residual sugar. A juicy palate. Full of fruit with hints of tropical.

Peter Marks
A little subdued at the beginning. Maybe some creamy character on the palate, maybe even some neutral oak that might have subdued the fruit a little bit.  The goat cheese roulade tended to overwhelm the wine a bit but at the same time there was a creamy texture that the food seemed to bring out in the wine which complemented the food very nicely.

Tony Allen
Very ripe on the nose. Almost shows a Muscat on the front of the palate. Has lots of sherbet lemon acidity and concentration on the mid palate. It accentuated several flavours within the dish and refreshed the mouth.

Source: thened.co.nz and top100wines.com