Simon Waghorn on Wine Awards

This show was published 24 June 2007

Overview

Simon Waghorn is winemaker for Whitehaven and Astrolabe, two top award-winning New Zealand wine brands. Simon uses wine show awards as a marker to see if his wines are in tune with the marketplace. He says they are useful in providing a snapshot of where your wine is rather than a guide to the winemaker as to what to do next. The style preferences of the judging panel can make a difference to the results which is a factor in why wines win different awards in different competitions.

From a marketing perspective wine awards do help generate a level of confidence for a wine - the trade study the results much more than the general public do and see the awards as an endorsement of the wine. A gold or silver medal gives sommeliers more confidence when recommending a wine to customers.

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc is made for restaurants as a food wine or apertif and is available in the US, the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong and Japan. Astrolabe is mainly sold in the domestic market.

For matching Sauvignon Blanc with food Simon suggests, rocket salad and leafy vegetables, feta cheese and olives.

Also included is a short piece with Phil Ryan of Mount Pleasant Wines in the Hunter Valley. For Phil wine awards are more helpful in promoting wines in retail outlets than in restaurants.

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The music used for the UK Wine Show is Griffes de Jingle 1 by Marcel de la Jartèle and Silence by Etoile Noire.