New Zealand winery scoops Chinese wine export order

New Zealand winery Trinity Hill has just secured its largest order of red wine to China.

Winemaker John Hancock says this is a positive sign for the industry in New Zealand, as 86% of wine exports are white wine.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg, the prospects are very exciting," says Hancock.

The lucrative Chinese order includes Trinity Hill's Gimblett Gravels 2007 Tempranillo, a wine that in the weekend scored Gold and a trophy at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

"We are sending 1400 cases urgently, as they have sold all of our last order. These are premium priced wines that will be enjoyed in restaurants in China," says Hancock.

"The 2007 Tempranillo is an elegant wine, with firm but not heavy tannin structure. The texture is silky, but with substance, almost like a combination of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is excellent with pork and red meat," he says.

Tempranillo is grown in the stony, free-draining and warm soils of the Gimblett Gravels, Trinity Hill is one of the few New Zealand wineries producing this wine.

Hancock says Trinity Hill's Gimblett Gravels 2007 Tempranillo is no stranger to awards.

"We are thrilled with this weekend's Gold Medal and Trophy and that it has been selected for Air New Zealand's upcoming Business Premier cycle. It also just received a prestigious Blue-Gold award at the Sydney International Wine Competition," says Hancock.

The awards are recognition of the success of this fascinating variety in the unique terroir of the Gimblett Gravels, because Tempranillo ripens early the opportunity for consistent high quality from year to year is an absolute reality.